title: Comparison between a new computer program and the reference software for gray-scale median analysis of atherosclerotic carotid plaques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare a new dedicated software program and Adobe Photoshop for gray-scale median (GSM) analysis of B-mode images of carotid plaques.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of 42 carotid plaques generating ≥50% diameter stenosis was evaluated by a single observer. The best segment for visualization of internal carotid artery plaque was identified on a single longitudinal view and images were recorded in JPEG format. Plaque analysis was performed by both programs. After normalization of image intensity (blood = 0, adventitial layer = 190), histograms were obtained after manual delineation of plaque. Results were compared with nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test and Kendall tau-b correlation analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GSM ranged from 00 to 100 with Adobe Photoshop and from 00 to 96 with IMTPC, with a high grade of similarity between image pairs, and a highly significant correlation (R = 0.94, p < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IMTPC software appears suitable for the GSM analysis of carotid plaques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Clinics Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of São Paulo University, Av. Dr. Eneas Carvalho de Aguiar, 255, 05403-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivan Benaduce
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.forename: Rodrigo Bono
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Anita Battistini de Azevedo
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Marcus Vinícius Martins
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Cury
authors.forename: Calógero
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Presti
mesh_terms: D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012984:Software; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
keywords: Duplex ultrasonography; carotid plaque; gray-scale median