Coronary Plaque Imaging plays an essential role in understanding the composition, distribution, and vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaque beyond what traditional angiography can reveal. This session explores advanced intravascular and non-invasive imaging techniques that allow clinicians to characterize plaque biology and guide personalized therapy. With growing research on high-risk plaque features and prevention strategies, many clinicians search for a specialized cardiology conference to strengthen their expertise in identifying lesions most likely to cause future events.

This description highlights the importance of imaging modalities such as IVUS, OCT, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), CT coronary angiography, and hybrid intravascular systems. Participants will understand how these tools differentiate calcified, fibrotic, lipid-rich, and mixed plaques with high spatial resolution. The session reviews critical high-risk features including thin-cap fibroatheroma, microchannels, macrophage infiltration, low-attenuation plaque, positive remodeling, and spotty calcification—each contributing to plaque instability and future risk prediction.

A major part focuses on integrating advanced coronary plaque characterization into routine clinical workflows. Participants will learn how plaque imaging helps refine treatment decisions in stable coronary disease, multivessel syndromes, diabetes-related atherosclerosis, and ambiguous lesions. The session evaluates how plaque morphology influences stent selection, lesion preparation techniques, and long-term strategy planning. Case discussions examine how high-risk plaque detection can modify therapy intensity, such as initiating PCSK9 inhibitors or using aggressive lipid-lowering in patients previously categorized as moderate risk.

Participants will also explore how plaque imaging enhances PCI safety and accuracy. The session explains how OCT and IVUS guide stent expansion, detect edge dissections, identify underexpansion, and prevent complications such as restenosis and stent thrombosis. For non-invasive approaches, the content highlights how CCTA-based plaque assessment contributes to functional ischemia prediction and risk scoring.

Future innovations include fully automated plaque quantification, AI-driven vulnerability prediction models, hybrid IVUS-OCT catheters, and new imaging biomarkers. By the end, attendees will understand how advanced plaque imaging improves risk assessment, therapy selection, procedural outcomes, and long-term cardiovascular prevention.