Guest editor: Giuseppe Ando 

Coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) is a condition characterised by complete blockages of coronary arteries, and it presents unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment. This series of articles is a comprehensive exploration of CTO, offering in-depth insights into its pathophysiology, prognostic significance, diagnostic methods and the latest advances in percutaneous interventions. With a multidisciplinary perspective, it caters to cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and researchers interested in understanding the intricacies of this condition and the current interventional approach. We will explore the various diagnostic modalities, including coronary angiography, intravascular imaging techniques and non-invasive approaches. We will cover insights into latest developments in CTO equipment and techniques, in success rates and in patient selection criteria. The importance of highly specialised operators will also be emphasised. The goal of these articles is to facilitate the integration of these innovations into clinical practice; by examining the entire spectrum of CTO, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond, we aim to demystify such a condition and improve the care and outcomes for the large number of affected patients.