Automated three-dimensional assessment of coronary artery anatomy with intravascular ultrasound scanning.
BACKGROUND
Angiography allows the definition of advanced, severe stages of coronary artery disease, but early atherosclerotic lesions, which do not lead to luminal stenosis, are not identified reliably. In contrast, intravascular ultrasound scanning allows the precise characterization and quantification of a wide range of atherosclerotic lesions, independent of the severity of luminal stenosis.


METHODS
Three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of entire coronary segments is possible with the integration of sequential 2-dimensional tomographic images and allows volumetric analysis of coronary arteries.


RESULTS
Automated systems able to recognize lumen and vessel borders and to display 3-D images are becoming available.


CONCLUSIONS
These systems have the potential for on-line 3-D image reconstruction for clinical decision-making and fast routine volumetric analysis in research studies. This review describes 3-D intravascular ultrasound scanning acquisition, analysis, and processing, and the associated technical challenges.
Klingensmith
Jon D
JD
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Schoenhagen
Paul
P
Tajaddini
Azita
A
Halliburton
Sandra S
SS
Tuzcu
E Murat
EM
Nissen
Steven E
SE
Vince
D Geoffrey
DG
D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*