IVUS
Also written as: IVUS — Intravascular Ultrasound
Intravascular ultrasound, an imaging technique using ultrasound from within blood vessels to visualize vessel walls.
Full Definition
Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a specialized imaging modality that employs miniaturized ultrasound transducers positioned on catheters to provide real-time, high-resolution images of vessel walls from inside the blood vessel. Unlike angiography which shows only the vessel lumen, IVUS can visualize the full thickness of the vessel wall, including atherosclerotic plaque composition, vessel dimensions, and stent deployment characteristics. This technology is particularly valuable in interventional cardiology for guiding percutaneous coronary interventions, assessing plaque burden, and optimizing stent placement. IVUS imaging provides cross-sectional views that complement angiographic findings.
Usage
Usage note: Pronounced as individual letters (I-V-U-S) or as a word (EYE-vus).
In Context
- "IVUS guidance was used to optimize stent expansion and apposition." — Interventional cardiology procedure note
- "Pre-intervention IVUS revealed significant plaque burden in the proximal vessel segment." — Catheterization laboratory report