Three-Dimensional Fourier-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging: Advantages and Future Development

Traditionally, intravascular imaging methods display the coronary anatomy in two dimensions, through a series of consecutive cross-sectional tomographic images. The physician is then required to mentally reassemble these images in order to visualize the vascular anatomy and all its complex interactions. The ability to depict the vascular structure with its actual spatial appearance, in three dimensions, is a powerful way to provide an easy, objective, and comprehensive overview of its complex and dynamic anatomy. However, three-dimensional (3D) application of intravascular imaging has been plagued by lack of enough resolution, frequent presence of imaging and motion artifacts and need for extensive image post-processing. Fourier-Domain OCT (FD-OCT) allows high-resolution (10-15 μm) visualization of the intracoronary environment with faster pullback speeds and image acquisition rates in comparison to IVUS and the previous generation time-domain OCT. These features have recently attracted attention to the potential of FD-OCT in generating high-quality 3D images of intravascular anatomies, with lesser artifacts. The present manuscript discusses the current status and some potential clinical applications of 3D FD-OCT imaging. Some technical aspects, limitations, and future perspectives are also briefly discussed.