Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a clinically useful tool that provides cross - sectional images of the coronary arterial lumen and wall. Diagnostic applications of IVUS include the evaluation of ambiguous lesions on angiography particulary at the bifurcations. IVUS is also useful in the assessement of coronary vasculopathy in cardiac transplant patients or it can help to diagnose abnormalities such as syndrome X or coronary artery spasm. IVUS can optimize the performing of percutaneous coronary interventions, especially stent implantation. It represents as well an opti- mal tool for assessing regression of atherosclerosis. Three - dimensional reconstruction, elastog- raphy and imaging guidwires are some of the recent advances in the field of intravascular ultrasound.

        Key words: Coronary intervention - Stent implantation - Vessel remodelling - Coronary angioplasty