Angiographic-pathologic correlations after elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

BACKGROUND The local effect of coronary angioplasty is evaluated on the basis of postangioplasty angiograms. Smooth-walled dilation is considered to represent minimal or no injury, whereas intraluminal haziness corresponds with wall laceration. This study correlates the preangioplasty and postangioplasty angiograms with the histopathology of the target sites. METHODS AND RESULTS The study includes 12 patients, each undergoing an elective procedure, and covers 19 angioplasty sites. Smooth-walled dilation and intraluminal haziness were not mutually exclusive. The angiograms were interpreted as smooth-walled dilation (n = 3), smooth-walled dilation with intraluminal haziness (n = 4), intraluminal and extraluminal haziness (n = 5), extraluminal dissection (n = 5), spiraltype dissection (n = 1), and aneurysm (n = 1). The histology of the arterial segments revealed wall laceration in all. Smooth-walled dilation without intraluminal haziness correlated with laceration limited to the intima in two, but with medial injury in one. Smooth-walled dilation with intraluminal haziness correlated with laceration limited to the intima in two and with medial injury in two. Intraluminal and extraluminal haziness corresponded with extensive laceration with deep involvement of the media in each. Extraluminal dissection correlated with a dissection along the shoulder area of the plaque, creating a broad-based flap. The spiral-type dissection corresponded with a true dissection into the plaque-free media. The aneurysm correlated with partial washout of an atherosclerotic plaque. CONCLUSIONS The angiographic image of intraluminal and extraluminal haziness indicates extensive medial laceration. Smooth-walled dilation, with or without intraluminal haziness, is not a reliable indicator. The study emphasizes the need to reconsider the interpretations of postangioplasty coronary angiograms.