Three-dimensional reconstruction of coronary arteries and plaque morphology using CT angiography – comparison and registration with IVUS. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Athanasiou, Lambros; Rigas, George; Sakellarios, Antonis; Exarchos, Themis; Siogkas, Panagiotis; Bourantas, Christos; Garcia-Garcia, Hector; Lemos, Pedro; Falcao, Breno; Michalis, Lampros; Parodi, Oberdan; Vozzi, Federico; Fotiadis, Dimitrios
• Is Part Of: BMC medical imaging. Volume 16:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Computed Tomography Angiography -- Intravascular ultrasound -- Plaque characterization -- 3D reconstruction; Diagnostic imaging -- Periodicals; 616.075405
• DOI: 10.1186/s12880-016-0111-6
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2342

Abstract

Abstract Background The aim of this study is to present a new methodology for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of coronary arteries and plaque morphology using Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA). Methods The methodology is summarized in six stages: 1) pre-processing of the initial raw images, 2) rough estimation of the lumen and outer vessel wall borders and approximation of the vessel's centerline, 3) manual adaptation of plaque parameters, 4) accurate extraction of the luminal centerline, 5) detection of the lumen - outer vessel wall borders and calcium plaque region, and 6) finally 3D surface construction. Results The methodology was compared to the estimations of a recently presented Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) plaque characterization method. The correlation coefficients for calcium volume, surface area, length and angle vessel were 0.79, 0.86, 0.95 and 0.88, respectively. Additionally, when comparing the inner and outer vessel wall volumes of the reconstructed arteries produced by IVUS and CTA the observed correlation was 0.87 and 0.83, respectively. Conclusions The results indicated that the proposed methodology is fast and accurate and thus it is likely in the future to have applications in research and clinical arena.