Diagnosis of vulnerable plaques in the cardiac catheterization laboratory

Rupture of vulnerable plaques is the main cause of acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction. Identification of vulnerable plaque is, therefore, essential to enable the development of treatment modalities to stabilize such plaque. Because myocardial infarction and its consequences are so important, we must investigate options to identify areas that will be responsible for future events. A wide variety exists in the stability of coronary atherosclerotic plaques. A plaque may be stable for years but the abrupt disruption of its structure is the main cause of acute coronary syndrome.1 The three forms of vulnerable plaques are thin cap fibroatheroma, erosion, and calcified nodules.