Assessment of intima-media thickness of carotid arteries: evaluation of an automated computer software.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of commercially available software directly implemented on the ultrasound scanner for automated measurement of the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery on source images.


METHODS
Measurements were performed on a GE Vivid 3 ultrasound scanner. First, inter- and intraobserver correlations were assessed for the automated and the manual measurements. Second, the correlation between automated and manual measurements was assessed in 199 asymptomatic patients with a mean age of 30 years (range 20-41 years).


RESULTS
The measurement was feasible in all patients and a standard configuration with optimum quality was determined. The inter- and intraobserver correlations obtained using the automated software were excellent and slightly inferior to the manual measurements. The correlation of the automated and manual measurements was significant (r = 0.86; P < 0.01) and the mean difference between both measurements was low (0.023 +/- 0.034 mm).


CONCLUSIONS
The software allowed an efficient and quick measurement by providing at the same time comparable results to the manual measurement and a better inter- and intraobserver variability.
Department of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, General Hospital, Medical University Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria. stefan.puchner@meduniwien.ac.at
Stefan
S
Puchner
Markus
M
Reiter
Christos
C
Baros
Erich
E
Minar
Johannes
J
Lammer
Robert A
RA
Bucek
D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001331:Automation; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012984:Software; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography