Internal medicine

Radiology

Sociology

Coronary artery disease

Modalities

Percutaneous coronary intervention

Social science

Myocardial infarction

Engineering

Cardiology

Medical physics

Engineering drawing

Optical coherence tomography

Intravascular ultrasound

Interventional cardiology

Medicine

Journal of Cardiology

Intravascular imaging was introduced in the clinical setting at the beginning of the 1990s and enabled, for the first time, in-vivo evaluation of atheroma burden and detection of plaque characteristics [1]. The clinical applications of intravascular imaging techniques [i.e. intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT)] demonstrated their potential value in assessing plaque morphology and pathophysiology [2–5]. IVUS and OCT have also played a crucial role to improve outcomes for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients receiving medical and/or interventional treatment [6–9].

Current status of hybrid intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography catheter for coronary imaging and percutaneous coronary intervention