title: Automated Vessel Segmentation in Dual Energy Computed Tomography Data of the Pelvis and Lower Extremities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical feasibility of a newly developed, fully automatic vessel segmentation software with automatic structured bone elimination (ASBE) using graph-matching and subvoxel analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dual energy computed tomography angiography (DECTA) data of 108 vessel segments were evaluated using the ASBE software and a commercial software against the digital subtraction angiography (DSA) standard of reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the ASBE software, sensitivity increased from 87.1% to 96.8% and data concordance with DSA increased from 64.5% to 88.6%, whereas specificity slightly decreased (79.2% vs. 87%) compared to the commercial software. Data concordance between ASBE software and DSA was especially high in severely stenosed (grade of stenosis >75%) blood vessels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASBE showed good concordance with the DSA standard of reference and non-inferiority compared to the commercial segmentation software. The main advantage of the ASBE software lies in its full automation and, thus, lower susceptibility to user prone errors.
authors: Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany Michael.kostrzewa@umm.de.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Kostrzewa
authors: Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Nils
authors: N
authors: Rathmann
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Hesser
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, Cardiology/Angiology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Kurt
authors: K
authors: Huck
authors: Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Stefan O
authors: SO
authors: Schönberg
authors: Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Steffen J
authors: SJ
authors: Diehl
mesh_terms: D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Computed tomography; angiography; automatic structured bone elimination; dual energy; peripheral arterial occlusive disease