title: Reproducible coronary plaque quantification by multislice computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate reproducibility and accuracy of computer-assisted coronary plaque measurements by multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (QMSCT-CA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight patients undergoing MSCT-CA and coronary arteriography for symptomatic coronary artery disease and quantitative intravascular ultrasound (IVUS, QCU) were examined. Two investigators performed the QMSCT-CA twice and a third investigator performed the QCU, all blinded for each other's results. There was no difference found for the matched region of interest (ROI) lengths (QCU 29.4 +/- 13 mm vs. QMSCT-CA 29.6 +/- 13 mm, P = 0.6; total length = 1,400 mm). The comparison of volumetric measurements showed (lumen QCU 267 +/- 139 mm(3) vs. mean QMSCT-CA 177 +/- 91 mm(3), P < 0.001; vessel 454 +/- 194 mm(3) vs. 398 +/- 187 mm(3), P <<0.001; and plaque 189 +/- 93 mm(3) vs. 222 +/- 121 mm(3); investigator 1, P = 0.02; and investigator 2, P = 0.07) significant differences. Automated lumen detection was also applied for QMSCT-CA (218 +/- 112 mm(3), P < 0.001 vs. QCU). The interinvestigator variability measurements for QMSCT-CA showed no significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QMSCT-CA systematically underestimates absolute coronary lumen- and vessel dimensions when compared with QCU. However, repeated measurements of coronary plaque by QMSCT-CA showed no statistically significant differences, although, the outcome showed a scattered result. Automated lumen detection for QMSCT-CA showed improved results when compared with those of human investigators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. n.Bruining@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bruining
authors.forename: Jos R T C
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Roelandt
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: La Grutta
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cademartiri
authors.forename: Pim J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: de Feijter
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mollet
authors.forename: Ron T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: van Domburg
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Serruys
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamers
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional