IMAGING OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS .2.

Several methods are currently used to detect and quantitate atheroscle rosis. Standard methods like angiography, computed tomography and sono graphy are described in part I of this paper. Angiography, still consi dered to be the ''gold standard'' to detect atherosclerotic lesions is invasive, involves potential risks for the patient and cannot be used in asymptomatic subjects even though they may be at high risk to deve lop atherosclerosis. Computed tomography and sonography are suitable t o define morphological alterations of atherosclerotic lesions, but the y are unfit to characterize their functional stage. Functional methods such as scintigraphy (planar and single-photon-emission tomography), positron emission tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (reviewed in Part I) partly fulfil the claim to image early atherosclerosis. Pr eliminary evidence indicates that radioisotopic techniques and magneti c resonance imaging may be of great benefit in the future for elucidat ing functional aspects of this widespread disease. The functional diag nostic procedures available today are reviewed in this paper.