Comparison between angiography and intracoronary ultrasound

Luminal irregularity is often not adequately appreciated on angiography, but can be well visualized on a cross-sectional image obtained with intracoronary ultrasound. Panel A: A concentric stenosis will appear similar in orthogonal angiographic views, ie, right (RAO) and left anterior oblique (LAO). Panel B: In comparison, an eccentric lesion will appear markedly different in the two angiographic views. Panel C: A complex lesion with marked luminal irregularity cannot be appreciated in any angiographic view and requires intracoronary ultrasound to be delineated.