Vulnerable Plaques

A Brief Review of the Concept and Proposed Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment

Technology Assessment

The technology assessment program at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides technology assessments for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). These technology assessments are used by CMS to inform its national coverage decisions for the Medicare program as well as provide information to Medicare carriers.

AHRQ's technology assessment program uses state-of-the-art methodologies for assessing the clinical utility of medical interventions. Technology assessments are based on a systematic review of the literature, along with appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods of synthesizing data from multiple studies.

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Contents

Glossary
Introduction
Methods
Current Concept of Vulnerable Plaque
Natural History
Proposed Methods To Identify Vulnerable Plaque
Implications for Patient Management
Summary
References
Appendix 1
Appendix 2

Prepared for AHRQ under Contract No. 290-02-0022. By Joseph Lau, M.D., David Kent, M.D., Athina Tatsioni, M.D., et al; Tufts-New England Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center.

Current as of January 2004

Internet Citation:

Vulnerable Plaques. A Brief Review of the Concept and Proposed Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment. Technology Assessment. January 2004. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/ta/placque/