With sixty-three contributions from leading experts around the world, this volume is the most comprehensive presentation of the human atherosclerotic plaque up to now. Based on the papers presented at a workshop held by the American Heart Association in September, 1986, it brings up-to-date current perceptions of the human plaque and advances in the application of modern methods of imaging, fluid dynamic measurement and plaque analysis. The volume indicates the direction in which present research is headed and will stimulate further interdisciplinary collaborative efforts.