Since the first application of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA) in humans in 1977, catheter-based revascularization has exhibitedtremendous growth. The indications have been expanded; innovativetechnologies emerged; knowledge about the pathophysiology of tissuereactions increased; and new frontiers in pharmaceutical and molecularbiology research chartered.The rapid evolution of stent design, deployment approaches, and adjunctivetherapy have led to changes in clinical practice patterns and has broadenedthe scope of patients that can be approached by PCI beyond those that couldbe safely treated by PTCA alone.