title: A voxel-map quantitative analysis approach for atherosclerotic noncalcified plaques of the coronary artery tree.
abstract: Noncalcified plaques (NCPs) are associated with the presence of lipid-core plaques that are prone to rupture. Thus, it is important to detect and monitor the development of NCPs. Contrast-enhanced coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is a potential imaging technique to identify atherosclerotic plaques in the whole coronary tree, but it fails to provide information about vessel walls. In order to overcome the limitations of coronary CTA and provide more meaningful quantitative information for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), we proposed a Voxel-Map based on mathematical morphology to quantitatively analyze the noncalcified plaques on a three-dimensional coronary artery wall model (3D-CAWM). This approach is a combination of Voxel-Map analysis techniques, plaque locating, and anatomical location related labeling, which show more detailed and comprehensive coronary tree wall visualization.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Computing Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Computing Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Kaijun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Computing Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Yonglin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Computing Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Computing Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Bingji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Computing Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Liwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Computing Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Shaoxiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003287:Contrast Media; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media