Clinical validation of an automated vessel-segmentation software of the extracranial-carotid arteries based on 3D-MRA: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy of automated vessel-segmentation software for vessel-diameter measurements based on three-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (3D-MRA).


METHODS
In 10 patients with high-grade carotid stenosis, automated measurements of both carotid arteries were obtained with 3D-MRA by two independent investigators and compared with manual measurements obtained by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and 2D maximum-intensity projection (2D-MIP) based on MRA and duplex ultrasonography (US). In 42 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA), intraoperative measurements (IOP) were compared with postoperative 3D-MRA and US.


RESULTS
Mean interoperator variability was 8% for measurements by DSA and 11% by 2D-MIP, but there was no interoperator variability with the automated 3D-MRA analysis. Good correlations were found between DSA (standard of reference), manual 2D-MIP (rP=0.6) and automated 3D-MRA (rP=0.8). Excellent correlations were found between IOP, 3D-MRA (rP=0.93) and US (rP=0.83).


CONCLUSIONS
Automated 3D-MRA-based vessel segmentation and quantification result in accurate measurements of extracerebral-vessel dimensions.
Guzman
R
R
Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
Lovblad
K O
KO
Altrichter
S
S
Remonda
L
L
de Koning
P
P
Andres
R H
RH
El-Koussy
M
M
Kelly
M E
ME
Reiber
J H C
JH
Schroth
G
G
Oswald
H
H
Barth
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003287:Contrast Media; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012986:Software Validation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
D003287:Contrast Media