Intravascular imaging technology developer Avinger is touting preliminary results from its SCAN clinical study that compared optical coherence tomography (OCT) with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for evaluating peripheral arteries.
An initial analysis of SCAN data indicates that OCT imaging with Avinger's Pantheris system was equivalent or statistically superior to IVUS in a variety of image and diagnostic comparisons, according to the company.
For the study, the researchers matched 120 OCT images with 120 IVUS images from 12 subjects whose vessel segments were scanned in identical positions. Three independent radiologists evaluated the results based on image quality, display of vessel morphology and disease, and vessel measurement.
OCT imaging with Pantheris was significantly better than IVUS in visualizing plaque, calcification, and stent struts, according to Avinger. It was statistically equivalent to IVUS in displaying the layered structures of the vessel wall and troughs following atherectomy.
