Detection and quantification of calcifications in intravascular ultrasound images by automatic thresholding.
An innovative application of automatic thresholding is used for the detection of calcification regions in intravascular ultrasound images. A priori knowledge of the acoustic shadow that usually accompanies calcification regions is used to discriminate these from other bright regions in the image. A method for the calculation of the angle of calcification has also been developed. The proposed algorithms are applied to in-vivo images obtained from left anterior descending coronary arteries during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (n = 14). The resulting specificity is 72% and the sensitivity 84%. The receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under the curve being equal to 0.91, is plotted to evaluate the algorithm performance.
Santos Filho
E
E
Department of Medical Engineering and Cardiology, Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan. esmeraldo@ieee.org
Saijo
Y
Y
Tanaka
A
A
Yoshizawa
M
M
D000465:Algorithms; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*