Semiautomated and automated algorithms for analysis of the carotid artery wall on computed tomography and sonography a correlation study

Saba, L., Tallapally, N., Gao, H. , Molinari, F., Anzidei, M., Piga, M., Sanfilippo, R. and Suri, J.S. (2013) Semiautomated and automated algorithms for analysis of the carotid artery wall on computed tomography and sonography a correlation study. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, 32(4), pp. 665-674.

Abstract

<p>Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare automated and semiautomated algorithms for analysis of carotid artery wall thickness and intima-media thickness on multidetector row computed tomographic (CT) angiography and sonography, respectively, and to study the correlation between them.</p> <p>Methods: Twenty consecutive patients underwent multidetector row CT angiographic and sonographic analysis of carotid arteries (mean age, 66 years; age range, 59–79 years). The intima-media thickness of the 40 carotid arteries was measured with novel and dedicated automated software analysis and by 4 observers who manually calculated the intima-media thickness. The carotid artery wall thickness was automatically estimated by using a specific algorithm and was also semiautomatically quantified. The correlation between groups was calculated by using the Pearson ρ statistic, and scatterplots were calculated. We evaluated intermethod agreement using Bland-Altman analysis.</p> <p>Results: By comparing automated carotid artery wall thickness, automated intima-media thickness, semiautomated carotid artery wall thickness, and semiautomated intima-media thickness analyses, a statistically significant association was found, with the highest values obtained for the association between semiautomated and automated intima-media thickness analyses(Pearson ρ = 0.9; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.95; P = 0.0001). The lowest values were obtained for the association between semiautomated intima-media thickness and automated carotid artery wall thickness analyses (Pearson ρ = 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.15–0.66; P = 0.0047). In the Bland-Altman analysis, the better results were obtained by comparing the semiautomated and automated algorithms for the study of intima-media thickness, with an interval of −16.1% to +43.6%.</p> <p>Conclusions: The results of this preliminary study showed that carotid artery wall thickness and intima-media thickness can be studied with automated software, although the CT analysis needs to be further improved.</p>

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gao, Dr Hao
• Authors: Saba, L., Tallapally, N., Gao, H., Molinari, F., Anzidei, M., Piga, M., Sanfilippo, R., and Suri, J.S.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Mathematics
• Journal Name: Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine
• ISSN: 0278-4297
• ISSN (Online): 1550-9613