Geometric characterization of stenosed human carotid arteries.
OBJECTIVE
The geometry of stenosed carotid bifurcations was analyzed to determine average representations for several stenosis grades.


METHODS
Film angiograms of 62 patients with internal carotid artery stenoses were digitized. Residual lumen boundaries were manually outlined. The outlines were processed with a computer to extract geometric measurements. The measurements were grouped according to stenosis grade and used to create average representations.


RESULTS
Accuracy and precision of the outlining technique were +/- 0.020 common carotid diameters (CCD) and +/- 0.025 CCD, respectively. Maximum narrowing of the internal carotid artery occurred at 0.3 CCD +/- 1.5 (mean +/- standard deviation) distal to the flow divider. The region of significant narrowing extended axially 1.2 CCD +/- 1.0. Poststenotic dilatations were observed, with enlargement of 1.3 +/- 0.7 times the normal diameter of the distal internal carotid artery. A tendency toward smaller bifurcation angles with increasing stenosis severity was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional geometric models could be created for carotid bifurcations that were disease free (normal) and of arbitrary stenosis grade.
Smith
R F
RF
Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Rutt
B K
BK
Fox
A J
AJ
Rankin
R N
RN
Holdsworth
D W
DW
D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular