Reproducibility of calcified lesion quantification: a longitudinal intravascular ultrasound study.
In view of a prospective intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) study, the reproducibility of the extent of the calcified lesion in IVUS images derived from separate pull-back maneuvers was assessed. Patients (n = 34) were imaged with IVUS before and after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and at 1-y follow-up. In the presence of a calcified lesion, the largest arc and the length of the matched calcified lesions was assessed. Interobserver differences in arc measurements were low (< or = 0.7%), with low coefficients of variation (< or = 5.8%). Similarly, interexamination differences in arc and length measurements were small (< or = 1.1%), with low coefficients of variation (< or = 3.2%). At follow-up, a nonsignificant increase in both the arc (1.9%) and length (1.7%) of the calcified lesion was observed. This study showed that measurements of the calcified lesion are highly reproducible; changes seen at 1-y follow-up were not significant. We conclude that IVUS may be used to monitor the effect of medical intervention on the extent of the calcified lesion in a longitudinal study.
Hagenaars
T
T
Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Gussenhoven
E J
EJ
van der Linden
E
E
Bom
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography