OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY (OCT): WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW


Joel A. Garcia, M.D., Denver Health Medical Center (DHMC) and University of Colorado Hospital at Denver, Denver, CO, USA

Objectives: Understanding the technical aspects of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) as they apply to daily clinical practice and comparing OCT images and acquisitions to intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Background: OCT is an imaging technology that provides high resolution (10x) cross-sectional images in many fields of medicine. It uses light as opposed to the widely used intra-vascular ultrasound imaging. Traditional intravascular ultrasound images are different than those obtained by OCT.

Methods: Semi-automated high-resolution analysis of light derived OCT images allows for improved evaluation of mechanical complications of interventions, stent apposition, stent strut behavior, overlap, and neointimal hyperplasia.

Conclusions: This review will focus on the image acquisition, technical aspects, advantages and disadvantages of coronary OCT. It will compare OCT to IVUS and discuss future directions of OCT.