Conclusions
The development of OCT has markedly improved intracoronary image resolution compared with IVUS. OCT is superior to IVUS in a number of aspects, particularly distinguishing thrombus formation, coronary dissection and incomplete stent apposition following implantation. OCT also assists the characterisation of neointimal coverage after stent implantation and thrombus formation, thereby allowing early comparison of new technologies using intermediate endpoints. Both techniques are clearly useful in diagnosing, planning and evaluating the results of coronary intervention. Whether this provides a significant improvement to clinical decision-making is still debatable and intracoronary imaging therefore exists as a useful adjunct to clinical practice. The role in assessment of new technologies is more certain and the superiority of the imagesobtained using OCT is therefore more important. Whether OCT will replace IVUS as the clinical tool of choice for intracoronary imaging remains undetermined and will be guided by the results of ongoing clinical trials.