title: Automatic vs semi-automatic global cardiac function assessment using 64-row CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Global cardiac function assessment using multidetector CT (MDCT) is time-consuming. Therefore we sought to compare an automatic software tool with an established semi-automatic method.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 36 patients underwent CT with 64 × 0.5 mm detector collimation, and global left ventricular function was subsequently assessed by two independent blinded readers using both an automatic region-growing-based software tool (with and without manual adjustment) and an established semi-automatic software tool. We also analysed automatic motion mapping to identify end-systole.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The time needed for assessment using the semi-automatic approach (12:12 ± 6:19 min) was reduced by 75-85% with the automatic software tool (unadjusted, 01:34 ± 0:29 min, adjusted, 02:53 ± 1:19 min; both p<0.001). There was good correlation (r=0.89; p<0.001) for the ejection fraction (EF) between the adjusted automatic (58.6 ± 14.9%) and the semi-automatic (58.0 ± 15.3%) approaches. Also the manually adjusted automatic approach led to significantly smaller limits of agreement than the unadjusted automatic approach for end-diastolic volume (±36.4 ml vs ±58.5 ml, p>0.05). Using motion mapping to automatically identify end-systole reduced analysis time by 95% compared with the semi-automatic approach, but showed inferior precision for EF and end-systolic volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Automatic function assessment using MDCT with manual adjustment shows good agreement with an established semi-automatic approach, while reducing the analysis by 75% to less than 3 min. This suggests that automatic CT function assessment with manual correction may be used for fast, comfortable and reliable evaluation of global left ventricular function.
authors: Department of Radiology, Charité - Medical School Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Greupner
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Zimmermann
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Hamm
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dewey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001331:Automation; D002302:Cardiac Output; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012984:Software; D013318:Stroke Volume; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology