In vivo comparison of lumen dimensions measured by time domain-, and frequency domain-optical coherence tomography, and intravascular ultrasound

Lumen dimensions measured by time-domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) may be influenced by the hemodynamic effect of proximal balloon occlusion. Frequency-domain OCT (FD-OCT) does not require the interruption of blood flow. Therefore, we compared the coronary lumen dimensions measured by TD-OCT, FD-OCT, and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in both stented and non-stented segments. Twenty patients who underwent both IVUS and OCT imaging (10 for TD- and 10 for FD-OCT) after stent implantation were included. The maximum, minimum, and mean diameters and areas were measured at the proximal and distal stent edges, as well as 3 mm inside and 5 mm outside of both edges. The measurements inside stent showed no significant differences between IVUS and TD- or FD-OCT. The lumen mean diameters and areas measured by IVUS at 5 mm outside stent were similar to those measured by FD-OCT (Distal; 3.07 ± 0.7 vs 3.03 ± 0.7 mm, p = 0.08 and 7.80 ± 4.0 vs 7.72 ± 4.1 mm², p = 0.07, respectively. Proximal; 3.25 ± 0.7 vs 3.23 ± 0.7 mm, p = 0.09 and 8.78 ± 3.8 vs 8.65 ± 3.7 mm², p = 0.08, respectively), but were greater than those measured by TD-OCT (Distal; 2.75 ± 0.5 vs 2.29 ± 0.5 mm, p = 0.0001 and 6.15 ± 2.6 vs 4.38 ± 1.9 mm², p = 0.0002, respectively. Proximal; 3.27 ± 0.6 vs 2.69 ± 0.6 mm, p = 0.0001 and 8.64 ± 3.4 vs 6.12 ± 2.7 mm², p = 0.0001 respectively). The interaction between TD- and FD-OCT for lumen dimension measurements at 5 mm outside stent was statistically significant. Vessel dimension measurements were similar between IVUS and FD-OCT in native vessel unlike with TD-OCT. Therefore, we might adapt the IVUS criteria of lesion severity for percutaneous coronary intervention to FD-OCT.