title: The accuracy of digital subtraction angiography for the quantification of atherosclerosis.
abstract: Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) allows the degree of arterial patency or stenosis to be rapidly quantified. We have assessed the accuracy with which a single-plane DSA system is able to quantify area patency by densitometric and geometric methods. Arterial phantoms were designed to test for systematic error; intra-arterial DSA images of critical lesions of the carotid bifurcation and the lower abdominal and peripheral vessels were used to determine intra- and interobserver reproducibility. The densitometric method, which was more accurate than the geometric method, had a mean systematic error of up to 4% and a mean intra-observer variability of about 15% (coefficient of variation). We have identified the principal sources of inaccuracy and ways in which it may be reduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Bristol General Hospital.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Key
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Jeans
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012015:Reference Standards; D012016:Reference Values; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D014654:Vascular Patency