Low and oscillatory arterial wall shear stress (WSS) have been shown to have an effect on many factors implicated in atherosclerotic lesion development. The majority of studies on the relationship between low or oscillating WSS and sites of intimal thickening and early atherosclerotic lesion development are based on in-vitro model studies of flow and WSS distribution. These models are based on average vessel geometries with average flow conditions and compared to average pathology distribution of lesions that may obscure the true relationship between WSS and lesion distribution[1]. Recent techniques have been developed using coronary MR angiography to create patient-specific 3D models along with velocity measurements of blood flow using phase contrast magnetic resonance (PCMR). However, these models may lack adequate spatial resolution for accurate, localized calculation of WSS[2]. Current, state-of-art multidetector CT scanners offer improvements in spatial resolution over MRI for creation of 3D vessel models.

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