Imaging techniques in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Coronary angiography makes it possible to visualize coronary artery stenosis and can be used for angioplasty and stent implantation; however, it does not allow the assessment of changes in myocardial microcirculation. The severity of an angiographically evaluated coronary stenosis does not always correspond to the extent of myocardial ischemia. Noninvasive techniques are needed to reexamine our reliance on coronary angiography and to explore the clinical value of the physiological assessment of coronary artery stenoses. Such noninvasive techniques might become important tools in the future following an overall evaluation of coronary morphology, myocardial function and perfusion ascertained by all available methods.