Evaluation of vascular disease progression in retinopathy of prematurity using static and dynamic retinal images.
OBJECTIVE
To measure accuracy and speed for detection of vascular progression in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) from serial images. Two strategies are compared: static side-by-side presentation and dynamic flickering of superimposed image pairs.


METHODS
Prospective comparative study.


METHODS
Fifteen de-identified, wide-angle retinal image pairs were taken from infants who eventually developed plus disease. Image pairs representing vascular disease progression were taken ≥1 week apart, and control images without progression were taken on the same day. Dynamic flickering pairs were created by digital image registration. Ten experts independently reviewed each image pair on a secure website using both strategies, and were asked to identify progression or state that images were identical. Accuracy and speed were measured, using examination date and ophthalmoscopic findings as a reference standard.


RESULTS
Using static images, experts were accurate in a mean (%) ± standard deviation (SD) of 11.4 of 15 (76%) ± 1.7 image pairs. Using dynamic flickering images, experts were accurate in a mean (%) ± SD of 11.3 of 15 (75%) ± 1.7 image pairs. There was no significant difference in accuracy between these strategies (P = .420). Diagnostic speed was faster using dynamic flickering (24.7 ± 8.3 seconds) vs static side-by-side images (40.3 ± 18.3 seconds) (P = .002). Experts reported higher confidence when interpreting dynamic flickering images (P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Retinal imaging provides objective documentation of vascular appearance, with potentially improved ability to recognize ROP progression compared to standard ophthalmoscopy. Speed of identifying vascular progression was faster by review of dynamic flickering image pairs than by static side-by-side images, although there was no difference in accuracy.
Department of Ophthalmology, Weill-Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
Jane S
JS
Myung
Rony
R
Gelman
Grant D
GD
Aaker
Nathan M
NM
Radcliffe
R V Paul
RV
Chan
Michael F
MF
Chiang
D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy