Validation of automated contour analysis of intravascular ultrasound images after vascular intervention.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of automated contour analysis of intravascular ultrasound images obtained after vascular intervention.


METHODS
This was a descriptive study.


METHODS
Intravascular ultrasound images obtained from patients after balloon angioplasty (n = 10), stent (n = 10), or stent graft placement (n = 10) were analyzed. A comparison was made between lumen area measured with an automated and a manual system. The location showing the smallest lumen area derived from the automated system was compared with the smallest lumen area selected by visual estimation.


RESULTS
Images containing a dissection as a result of balloon angioplasty could not be analyzed by the automated system. The coefficient of variation between the lumen area measurements obtained with the automated system and the manual tracing system of images with a stent (n = 76) or stent graft (n = 79) was 2.7% and 2.1%, respectively. Correlation between the two systems was high (r = 1.00, p < 0.01) both for images containing stents or stent grafts. Minimum lumen area measured with the automated analysis system was smaller than minimum lumen area selected by visual estimation (mean difference 0.8 mm2 (4.9%) for stents and 2.4 mm2 (10.9%) for stent grafts). The location of the smallest lumen area determined with both systems was the same (<1 cm) in 16 cases and differed more than 1 cm in 4 other cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The automated analysis system shows good agreement with manual contour analysis of lumen area in images with a stent or stent graft and is a reliable tool for determination of the smallest lumen area. The system is not able to analyze an irregular-shaped lumen area caused by a dissection.
Hartlooper
A
A
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt and the Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
van Essen
J A
JA
van der Lugt
A
A
van Sambeek
M R
MR
van Overhagen
H
H
Gussenhoven
E J
EJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000592:standards*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015607:Stents; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000592:standards*