Will invasive coronary imaging identify vulnerable plaque and predict future cardiac events?

Key Points Culprit ACS lesions are characterized by varying degrees of plaque rupture and thrombosis overlying a large lipid core plaque (LCP). Identification of LCP using near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was accurate for detecting culprit lesions in ACS patients. While LCP may be a marker of vulnerable plaque, further studies are needed to determine if NIRS can provide a site‐specific approach to predicting and preventing future cardiac events. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.