Virtual histology intravascular ultrasound in carotid interventions.

<bold>Purpose: </bold>To report early clinical experience with virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH IVUS) in carotid endoluminal repair. <bold>Technique: </bold>A 2.9-F, 20-MHz catheter that utilizes computer software to demonstrate the histological components of arteriosclerotic plaque was evaluated during carotid angioplasty and stenting. VH IVUS images were created following a pullback through the carotid stenosis and produced a color-coded map of the different histological constituents of the disease (dark green: fibrous, yellow/green: fibrofatty, white: calcified, and red: necrotic lipid core plaque). <bold>Conclusion: </bold>VH IVUS produces a color-coded map of the different histological components of artery plaque. It has the potential to predict how the plaque is likely to behave at the moment of endoluminal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]