Stress waves were generated in sections of human vascular tissue by transmitting laser pulses from a XeCl laser source through a glass fiber. Needle-type polyvinylidenefluoride hydrophones were used to detect the acoustic response of the tissue samples during ablation. The experimental arrangement allowed the discrimination in vitro between calcified hard tissue and normal arterial wall immersed in normal saline solution. Atheromatous vessels exhibited a shorter rise time and a higher peak stress than normal tissue.