Angioscopic Evaluation of Aortic Plaques
Summary
Angioscopic evaluation involves direct visualisation of aortic intimal surfaces using fibre-optic endoscopy to assess atherosclerotic plaque morphology and vulnerability. This technique permits real-time identification of plaque colour, surface irregularities, ulcerations and thrombus formation, offering insights into the dynamic processes of plaque progression and destabilisation. Yellow discolouration, indicative of lipid-rich or inflamed lesions, is graded to stratify risk, while ulcerations and thrombi are noted as markers of advanced disease. Angioscopy complements cross-sectional imaging by providing high-resolution surface detail and facilitating targeted tissue sampling. It has expanded our understanding of systemic atherosclerosis by revealing synchronous progression of plaques across vascular beds and has potential utility in risk stratification, monitoring therapeutic interventions and guiding interventional strategies.
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Angioscopic Evaluation of Aortic Plaques publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in angioscopic evaluation of aortic plaques across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Angioscopy: Direct visualisation of the interior surface of blood vessels using fibre-optic endoscopy.
Non-obstructive general angioscopy (NOGA): A form of angioscopy that allows vessel inspection without impeding blood flow, enabling continuous imaging.
Yellow plaque: A lipid-rich atherosclerotic lesion that appears yellow under angioscopic light, denoting vulnerability to rupture.
Cholesterol crystals: Ordered aggregates of cholesterol within plaques that contribute to local inflammation and mechanical disruption.
Interleukin-6 ratio: The proportion of interleukin-6 to other cytokines in plaque samples, used as a marker of inflammatory activity.
References
- Correlation between plaque vulnerability of aorta and coronary artery: an evaluation of plaque activity by direct visualization with angioscopy. The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging (2015).
- Different Characteristics and Interleukin-6 Ratios of Scattering-Type Aortic Plaques. Cureus (2024).
- Efficacy of non-obstructive aortic angioscopy for detecting a thoracic aortic graft rupture: a case report. Surgical Case Reports (2022).
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