Intravascular optical coherence tomography: differentiation of atherosclerotic plaques and quantification of vessel dimensions in crural arterial specimens

Purpose: Intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a new technique based on infrared light that visualizes the arteries with a resolution of 10-20 μm. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is the current in vivo reference standard and provides a resolution of 100-150 μm. This study compared OCT to IVUS and histopathology with respect to the ability to differentiate atherosclerotic plaques and quantify vascular dimensions in peripheral crural arteries ex vivo. Materials and Methods: 50 segments of atherosclerotic arteries derived from five amputated human lower extremities were examined. The different plaque types (fibrous, high-lipid content, calcified) were assigned by two independent examiners, and the sensitivity and specificity of OCT in comparison with histopathology as well as intra- and interobserver consensus were calculated. A comparison of OCT with IVUS addressed the parameters: luminal area (LA), vascular wall area (VA) and plaque area (PA). Results: When comparing OCT and histopathology with respect to the differentiation of various plaque types, sensitivities of 81% and specificities of 89% for fibrous plaques, of 100% and 93% for lipid-rich plaques and of 80% and 89% for calcified plaques were achieved (overall correlation 83%). Intra- and interobserver consensus was very high (κ=0.86 and κ=0.89, p<0.001, respectively). There was also a high correlation between quantitative measurements (Bland-Altman plot [LA]: mean bias, 0.1 mm2 accuracy ±1.8 mm2, r=0.95[p<0.001] Bland-Altman plot [VA]: mean bias, 0.3 mm2 accuracy ±2.3 mm2, r=0.94[p<0.001] Bland-Altman plot [PA]: mean bias, 0.4 mm2 accuracy ±2.3 mm2, r=0.80[p<0.01]). Conclusion: OCT allows the differentiation of atherosclerotic plaque types in crural arteries with high accuracy compared to histopathology. Quantitative measurements show a high correlation with IVUS, the current reference standard. (orig.)