ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To compare diagnostic performance and time efficiency between 3D multipath curved planar reformations (mpCPRs) and axial images of CT angiography for the pre-interventional assessment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), with digital subtraction angiography as the standard of reference. METHODS: Forty patients (10 females, mean age 72 years), referred to CTA prior to endovascular treatment of PAD, were prospectively included and underwent peripheral CT angiography. A semiautomated toolbox was used to render mpCPRs. Twenty-one arterial segments were defined in each leg; for each segment, the presence of stenosis > 70% was assessed on mpCPRs and axial images by two readers, independently, with digital subtraction angiography as gold standard. RESULTS: Both readers reached lower sensitivity (Reader 1: 91 vs. 94%, p = 0.08; Reader 2: 89 vs. 93%, p = 0.03) but significantly higher specificity (Reader 1: 94 vs. 89%, p < 0.01; Reader 2: 96 vs. 95%, p = 0.01) with mpCPRs than with axial images. Reader 1 achieved significantly higher accuracy with mpCPRs (93 vs. 91%, p = 0.02), and Reader 2 had similar overall accuracy in both evaluations (94 vs. 94%, p = 0.96). Both readers read mpCPRs significantly faster than axial images (Reader 1: 5'45â³ based on mpCPRs vs. 7'40â³ based on axial images; Reader 2: 4'41â³ based on mpCPRs vs. 6'57â³ based on axial images; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: mpCPRs are a promising 3D reformation technique that facilitates a fast assessment of PAD with high diagnostic accuracy.
Subject(s)
Computed Tomography Angiography/methods , Peripheral Arterial Disease/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods , Male , Middle Aged , Multidetector Computed Tomography , Prospective Studies , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , TimeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To quantify the detectability of peripheral artery stenosis on hybrid CT angiography (CTA) reformations. METHODS: Hybrid reformations were developed by combining multipath curved planar reformations (mpCPR) and maximum intensity projections (MIP). Fifty peripheral CTAs were evaluated twice: either with MIP, mpCPR and axial images or with hybrid reformations only. Digital subtraction angiography served as gold standard. RESULTS: Using hybrid reformations, two independent readers detected 88.0% and 81.3% of significant stenosis, respectively. However, CTA including axial images detected statistically significant more lesions (98%). CONCLUSION: Peripheral CTA reading including axial images is still recommended. Further improvement of these hybrid reformations is necessary.
Subject(s)
Angiography, Digital Subtraction/methods , Arterial Occlusive Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Constriction, Pathologic/diagnostic imaging , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methodsABSTRACT
Dynamic contrast-enhanced image data (perfusion data) are used to characterize regional tissue perfusion. Perfusion data consist of a sequence of images, acquired after a contrast agent bolus is applied. Perfusion data are used for diagnostic purposes in oncology, ischemic stroke assessment or myocardial ischemia. The diagnostic evaluation of perfusion data is challenging, since the data is complex and exhibits various artifacts, e.g., motion artifacts. We provide an overview on existing methods to analyze, and visualize CT and MR perfusion data. The integrated visualization of several 2D parameter maps, the 3D visualization of parameter volumes and exploration techniques are discussed. An essential aspect in the diagnosis of perfusion data is the correlation between perfusion data and derived time-intensity curves as well as with other image data, in particular with high resolution morphologic image data. We discuss visualization support with respect to the three major application areas: ischemic stroke diagnosis, breast tumor diagnosis and the diagnosis of coronary heart disease.
Subject(s)
Electronic Data Processing/methods , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods , Perfusion Imaging/methods , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Computer Graphics , Heart/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Models, Cardiovascular , Tomography, Emission-Computed , User-Computer InterfaceABSTRACT
The study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained. The purpose of the study was to prospectively quantify the angular visibility range, determine the existence of orthogonal viewing pairs, and characterize the conditions that cause artifacts in multipath curved planar reformations (MPCPRs) of the peripheral arterial tree in 10 patients (eight men and two women; mean age, 69 years; range, 54-80 years) with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Percentage of segments with the maximal possible visibility score of 1 was significantly greater (odds ratio, 1.42; P<.001) for MPCPRs than for maximum intensity projections. One or more orthogonal viewing pairs were identified for all above-knee arterial segments, and artifactual vessel distortion was observed when the vessel axis approached a horizontal course in MPCPRs.
