title: Automatic detection and quantification of the Agatston coronary artery calcium score on contrast computed tomography angiography.
abstract: Potentially, Agatston coronary artery calcium (CAC) score could be calculated on contrast computed tomography coronary angiography (CTA). This will make a separate non-contrast CT scan superfluous. This study aims to assess the performance of a novel fully automatic algorithm to detect and quantify the Agatston CAC score in contrast CTA images. From a clinical registry, 20 patients were randomly selected for each CAC category (i.e. 0, 1-99, 100-399, 400-999, ≥1,000). The Agatston CAC score on non-contrast CT was calculated manually, while the novel algorithm was used to automatically detect and quantify Agatston CAC score in contrast CTA images. The resulting Agatston CAC scores were validated against the non-contrast images. A total of 100 patients (60 ± 11 years, 63 men) were included. The median CAC score on non-contrast CT was 145 (IQR 5-760), whereas the contrast CTA CAC score was 170 (IQR 23-594) (P = 0.004). The automatically computed CAC score showed a high correlation (R = 0.949; P < 0.001) and intra-class correlation (R = 0.863; P < 0.001) with non-contrast CT CAC score. Moreover, agreement within CAC categories was good (κ 0.588). Fully automatic detection of Agatston CAC score on contrast CTA is feasible and showed high correlation with non-contrast CT CAC score. This could imply a radiation dose reduction and time saving by omitting the non-contrast scan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Postal zone 2300 RC, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wehab
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Michiel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Graaf
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broersen
authors.forename: Pieter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kitslaar
authors.forename: Elco
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oost
authors.forename: Jouke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.forename: Jeroen J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bax
authors.forename: Johan H C
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Reiber
authors.forename: Arthur J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Scholte
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001331:Automation; D003287:Contrast Media; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media