The complementary role of microCT and histopathology in characterizing the natural history of stented arteries

Abstract

Microcomputed tomography is an important tool for preclinical vascular imaging, with micron-level resolution. This nondestructive means of imaging allows for rapid collection of 2D and 3D reconstructions to visualize pathologic specimens. Postmortem analysis of stented arteries has yielded significant insights into the ‘natural’ history of stented arteries. This article outlines a protocol for ex vivo, postmortem cardiac examination of stented arterial segments with microcomputed tomography followed by histopathologic analysis and highlights the complementary nature of these modalities.

Keywords::

• 3D imaging
• cardiovascular imaging
• microCT
• pathology

Financial & competing interests disclosure

CVPath Institute, Inc., Gaithersburg (MD, USA) 20878 and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (NH, USA) provided full support for this work. Aaron V Kaplan is the Director of Tryton and receives funding from Cordis Corp., Medtronic, Boston Scientific and Abbott. Renu Virmani is a consultant for Medtronic AVE, Abbott Vascular, W.L. Gore, Volcano Therapeutics, Inc., Prescient Medical, CardioMind, Inc., Direct Flow, and Atrium Medical Corporation. Timothy Ball is a consultant for Trytom Medical Inc. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.