内容简介：
Serving as a primer, reference and review of some of the key features of current activities in the field of atherosclerosis, this text aims to provide material and stimulating ideas for basic scientists and clinical researchers in order to extend the application of vascular imaging and to further develop methods suitable for investigation of the arterial wall. The first section presents current knowledge about pathology, vascular mechanics and compensatory mechanisms active during atherogenesis. It explores the early lesion, complications of plaques and early detection of plaques. The second section reviews several key methodological issues of B-mode ultrasound imaging and some current data. Quantitative B-mode ultrasound is an established non-invasive tool widely used in large epidemiologic studies and interventional clinical trials of atherosclerosis. The book's final section addresses the most promising areas of development in vascular imaging. This involves new techniques to evaluate the atherosclerotic bed, to follow atheroma progression/regression and to evaluate vascular mechanics in atherosclerotic arteries. The last chapter places the application of non-invasive imaging in perspective.