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Ultrasound imaging versus morphopathology in cardiovascular diseases. Coronary collateral circulation and atherosclerotic plaque

Giorgio Baroldi1 email, Riccardo Bigi2 email and Lauro Cortigiani3 email

1Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Milan and Pisa, Italy

2University School of Medicine and "A. De Gasperis" Foundation, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy

3Cardiovascular Unit, "Campo di Marte" Hospital, Lucca, Italy

author email corresponding author email

Cardiovascular Ultrasound 2005, 3:6doi:10.1186/1476-7120-3-6

Published: 1 March 2005

Abstract

This review article is aimed at comparing the results of histopathological and clinical imaging studies to assess coronary collateral circulation in humans. The role of collaterals, as emerging from morphological studies in both normal and atherosclerotic coronary vessels, is described; in addition, present role and future perpectives of echocardiographic techniques in assessing collateral circulation are briefly summarized.


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