title: Impact of analyzing fewer image frames per segment during offline volumetric radiofrequency-based intravascular ultrasound measurements of target lesions prior to percutaneous coronary interventions.
abstract: In the present study, we evaluated the impact of a 50% reduction in number of image frames (every second frame) on the analysis time and variability of offline volumetric radiofrequency-based intravascular ultrasound (RF-IVUS) measurements in target lesions prior to percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Volumetric RF-IVUS data of vessel geometry and plaque composition are generally obtained by a semi-automated analysis process that includes time-consuming manual contour editing. A reduction in the number of frames used for volumetric analysis may speed up the analysis, but could increase measurement variability. We repeatedly performed offline volumetric analyses in RF-IVUS image sets of 20 mm-long coronary segments that contained 30 de novo lesions prior to PCI. A 50% reduction in frames decreased the analysis time significantly (from 57.5 ± 7.3 to 35.7 ± 3.7 min; P < 0.0001) while geometric and compositional RF-IVUS measurements did not differ significantly from measurements obtained from all frames. The variability between measurements on the reduced number of frames versus all frames was comparable to the intra-observer measurement variability. In target lesions prior to PCI, offline volumetric RF-IVUS analyses can be performed using a reduced number of image frames (every second frame). This reduces the time of analysis without substantially increasing measurement variability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcentrum Twente, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Haaksbergerstraat 55, 7513 ER Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huisman
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Mintz
authors.forename: Gert K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: van Houwelingen
authors.forename: Martin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Stoel
authors.forename: Frits H A F
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: de Man
authors.forename: Hans W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Louwerenburg
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Birgelen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional