Dear Colleagues,

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has a significant impact on the clinical course of patients with coronary artery disease, especially in the setting of acute coronary syndrome. Angiography is routinely used to guide PCI, however it has several limitations. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are the most widely available intravascular imaging techniques and are increasingly used to overcome the limitations of coronary angiography. Both modalities provide a wealth of information that is important for PCI planning (lesion morphology, length, diameter), PCI outcome evaluation (stent expansion, stent apposition, edge dissection) and stent failure management. The implications of intravascular imaging for PCI optimization are further supported by clinical outcome studies. Nevertheless, intravascular imaging is still underutilized in everyday practice. Appropriate education and training with regard to image acquisition and accurate interpretation, together with knowledge of the strengths and limitations of IVUS and OCT, are essential for the successful application of these techniques in demanding settings including left main, bifurcation and chronic total occlusion PCI. 

Assis. Prof. Grigorios Tsigkas, Dr. Athanasios Moulias and Dr. Anastasios Apostolos
Guest Editors