Intravascular ultrasound. Research technique or clinical tool?

I ntravascular ultrasound is a new technique that allows intraluminal catheter-based vascular imaging. Technological advances in miniaturization have produced 4F to 8F catheters that can be safely maneuvered within coronary and peripheral arteries.1,2 Images obtained provide accurate measurements of lumen area as well as high-resolution images of arterial wall components.3,4 Histopathological studies have demonstrated the ability of intravascular ultrasound to characterize plaque morphology,5-7 and these findings have been extrapolated to provide a novel method of examining plaque morphology in vivo. There has been increasing interest in intravascular ultrasound during the past 5 years, including attempts at tissue characterization and computer-based three-dimensional reconstruction.8 There subsequently have arisen high expectations of using intravascular ultrasound for overcoming the known limitations of coronary angiography as well as for guiding catheter-based vascular interventions.9,'0