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Figure 3 A NIRS Scan Correlates Well to Histologic Findings in Coronary Artery From an 85-Year-Old Male With a History of MI

(A) Chemogram image indicating artery wall lipid content (x axis = pullback in millimeters; y axis = rotation in degrees). Each pixel is marked with red for low probability and yellow for high probability of lipid core plaque of interest (LCP). The lipid core burden index (top right) indicates amount of lipid in scanned artery on a 0 to 1,000 scale. (B) Summary (block chemogram) of LCP presence at 2-mm intervals in 4 probability categories. (C) Map of histologic classifications (yellow = LCP; light orange = small or thick-capped fibroatheroma; dark orange = intimal xanthoma and pathologic intimal thickening; red = all other types). (D) Movat cross-sections from locations along the artery (dotted lines). Black bars denote 1 mm. Image interpretation: The chemogram shows prominent lipid core signal at 2 to 16 mm, occupying 180°. The block chemogram shows that the strongest LCP signals extend 5 to 11 mm. The NIRS signals at 18 and 42 mm correctly indicate absence of LCP. MI = myocardial infarction; other abbreviations as in Figure 1.