Analysis of the performance of various algorithms for the segmentation of the carotid artery

Carotid artery disease occurs when the diameter of the carotid arteries is narrowed because of a buidup of fatty plaque and cholesterol along the inside walls of the arteries. Carotid arteries can develop atherosclerosis which is a chronic disease characterized by unusual thickening and hardening of the carotid artery walls. The intima-media thickness (IMT) is a reliable early indicator of this pathology. IMT is still measured by the physician using images acquired with a B mode ultrasound. Also statistical parameters such as the maximum, the minimum or the average IMT are measured. The segmentation of carotid artery using Statistical shape driven approach and Spokes ellipse algorithm are presented and the results are compared.