Utility of novel volumetric intravascular ultrasound analysis software for coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Volumetric intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis has contributed significantly to the assessment of coronary artery disease. The aim of this study is to validate the novel IVUS analysis software (NICORAS) compared to the previously validated software (EchoPlaque).


METHODS
Selected from clinical cases, we used 30 IVUS images that utilized motorized pullback at 0.5 mm/sec. Judging from at least two vascular landmarks, identical coronary artery segments were selected and analyzed with two software systems (NICORAS and EchoPlaque). Lumen and external elastic membrane (EEM) borderlines were traced at every 0.5 mm interval. Plaque area was calculated as EEM minus lumen area. Then, volumetric IVUS data were calculated using interpolated frame data from which lumen, EEM, and plaque volume were computed.


RESULTS
The average analyzed coronary segment was 15.4 +/- 4.3 mm. There was excellent agreement between NICORAS and EchoPlaque for lumen volume (r = 0.999, p < 0.0001), EEM volume (r= 0.999, p < 0.0001), and plaque volume (r = 0.998, p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The new volumetric IVUS analysis software provided IVUS data similar to previously examined software.
Tsumori
Takara
T
Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Osaka City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
Kataoka
Toru
T
Kobayashi
Yoshiki
Y
Xiaohui
Gao
G
Takeshita
Hiroaki
H
Shirai
Nobuyuki
N
Matsumoto
Ryo
R
Nakata
Shinji
S
Ehara
Shoichi
S
Yoshiyama
Minoru
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012984:Software; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*