An automated approach to quantify volumetric coronary plaque composition by multi-slice computed tomography: An ex-vivo feasibility study

Author

Bruining, Nico ; Verheye, S. ; Knaapen, M. ; Somers, P. ; Regar, E. ; Ligthart, J. ; Cademartiri, F. ; de Winter, S. ; van Langenhove, G. ; Serruys, PWJC ; De Feijter, PJ ; Hamers, R.

Author_Institution

Erasmus MC, Rotterdam

fYear

2008

fDate

14-17 Sept. 2008

Firstpage

541

Lastpage

544

Abstract

This study explores the possibility to use the Hounsfield unit (HU) distribution of a coronary plaque to quantify its composition when imaged with multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT). Explanted left anterior descending specimens were imaged with different contrast strengths. In one specimen, 5 sections of 0.9 to 1.4 mm long were 3D-quantitatively evaluated against quantitative volumetric histopathology. There were no substantial differences found between the two quantitative methodologies. Both quantitative methodologies showed a remarkable positive correlation. This ex-vivo multi-modality imaging study shows encouraging results for quantitative MSCT-CA based plaque composition measurements compared against quantitative histopathology.

Keywords

angiocardiography; blood vessels; cardiovascular system; computerised tomography; medical image processing; Hounsfield unit distribution; ex-vivo multimodality imaging; image contrast; left anterior descending specimens; multislice computed tomography; quantitative volumetric histopathology; volumetric coronary plaque composition quantification; Arteries; Bifurcation; Calcium; Cardiology; Computed tomography; Coronary arteriosclerosis; Data mining; Hospitals; Humans; Image reconstruction;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Computers in Cardiology, 2008

Conference_Location

Bologna

ISSN

0276-6547

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-3706-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/CIC.2008.4749098

Filename

4749098