Impact of analyzing fewer image frames per segment during offline volumetric radiofrequency-based intravascular ultrasound measurements of target lesions prior to percutaneous coronary interventions

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2012 Mar;28(3):479-89. doi: 10.1007/s10554-011-9843-0. Epub 2011 Mar 19.

Abstract

In the present study, we evaluated the impact of a 50% reduction in number of image frames (every second frame) on the analysis time and variability of offline volumetric radiofrequency-based intravascular ultrasound (RF-IVUS) measurements in target lesions prior to percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Volumetric RF-IVUS data of vessel geometry and plaque composition are generally obtained by a semi-automated analysis process that includes time-consuming manual contour editing. A reduction in the number of frames used for volumetric analysis may speed up the analysis, but could increase measurement variability. We repeatedly performed offline volumetric analyses in RF-IVUS image sets of 20 mm-long coronary segments that contained 30 de novo lesions prior to PCI. A 50% reduction in frames decreased the analysis time significantly (from 57.5 ± 7.3 to 35.7 ± 3.7 min; P < 0.0001) while geometric and compositional RF-IVUS measurements did not differ significantly from measurements obtained from all frames. The variability between measurements on the reduced number of frames versus all frames was comparable to the intra-observer measurement variability. In target lesions prior to PCI, offline volumetric RF-IVUS analyses can be performed using a reduced number of image frames (every second frame). This reduces the time of analysis without substantially increasing measurement variability.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / therapy
  • Coronary Vessels / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands
  • Observer Variation
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Time Factors
  • Ultrasonography, Interventional*