title: Clinical validation of an automated vessel-segmentation software of the extracranial-carotid arteries based on 3D-MRA: a prospective study.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Guzman
authors: K O
authors: KO
authors: Lovblad
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Altrichter
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Remonda
authors: P
authors: P
authors: de Koning
authors: R H
authors: RH
authors: Andres
authors: M
authors: M
authors: El-Koussy
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Kelly
authors: J H C
authors: JH
authors: Reiber
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Schroth
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Oswald
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Barth
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media