Progress in atherosclerotic plaque imaging

Figure 10 Spatial resolution and dose-effectiveness of different diagnostic imaging modalities. Minimum spatial resolution required for the identification of the indicated morphological feature of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque (top); dose effectiveness in the identification of specific biological processes and compound; specific target and respective tracer are indicated (bottom). SPECT: Single photon emission computed tomography; PET: Positron emission tomography; CT: Computed tomography; MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging; IB-US: Integrated backscatter ultrasonography; IVMRI: Intravascular magnetic resonance imaging; IVUS: Intravascular ultrasound; US-E: Intravascular ultrasound employed in elastography; VH: Virtual histology; OCT: Optical coherence tomography; CE-MRI: Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging; CE-CT: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography; CE-US: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography; FDG: Fluorodeoxyglucose; USPIO: Ultra-small super paramagnetic iron oxide; Au-HDL: High-density lipoprotein nanoparticle contrast agent; VCAM: Vascular cell adhesion molecule; NP: Nanoparticle; MPIO: Microparticles of iron oxide.