BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: B-mode measurement of the carotid intima-media (IM) thickness (T) based on manual tracing (MT) procedures are dependent on the subjectivity of the reader and the existing automatic tracing procedures often fail to detect the IM boundaries accurately. The purpose of this study was to compare the tracing results of the IM boundaries of the carotid wall with a new automatic identification (AI) procedure, based on an active contour model, and computer-assisted manual tracing (MT). METHODS: The detection of the IM boundaries was performed with both procedures in 126 ultrasound images [63 each of the common carotid artery (CCA) and carotid bulb] along the far wall of the distal CCA and the carotid bulb. Intra- and inter-reader variability for mean and maximum IMT with AI and MT and accuracy of identification of both IM boundaries were evaluated. RESULTS: Using MT the intra- and inter-reader variability amounted to 0.01-0.03 and 0.03-0.07 mm, respectively. The variability was slightly higher in the carotid bulb than in the CCA. Using AI the variability was almost eliminated. Mean and maximum IMT were measured systematically lower by AI compared with MT in all regions by 0.01 mm. The accuracy of identification was similar for both IM boundaries, but lower in the carotid bulb region than in the CCA. CONCLUSIONS: The new AI procedure identifies both IM boundaries in the region of the far wall of the CCA and carotid bulb with high precision, and eliminates most of the intra- and inter-reader variability of the IMT measurement using MT.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: B-mode measurement of the carotid intima-media (IM) thickness (T) based on manual tracing (MT) procedures are dependent on the subjectivity of the reader and the existing automatic tracing procedures often fail to detect the IM boundaries accurately. The purpose of this study was to compare the tracing results of the IM boundaries of the carotid wall with a new automatic identification (AI) procedure, based on an active contour model, and computer-assisted manual tracing (MT). METHODS: The detection of the IM boundaries was performed with both procedures in 126 ultrasound images [63 each of the common carotid artery (CCA) and carotid bulb] along the far wall of the distal CCA and the carotid bulb. Intra- and inter-reader variability for mean and maximum IMT with AI and MT and accuracy of identification of both IM boundaries were evaluated. RESULTS: Using MT the intra- and inter-reader variability amounted to 0.01-0.03 and 0.03-0.07 mm, respectively. The variability was slightly higher in the carotid bulb than in the CCA. Using AI the variability was almost eliminated. Mean and maximum IMT were measured systematically lower by AI compared with MT in all regions by 0.01 mm. The accuracy of identification was similar for both IM boundaries, but lower in the carotid bulb region than in the CCA. CONCLUSIONS: The new AI procedure identifies both IM boundaries in the region of the far wall of the CCA and carotid bulb with high precision, and eliminates most of the intra- and inter-reader variability of the IMT measurement using MT.
Authors: Andreas Krebs; Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss; Janine Alt; Jürgen Doerfer; Kristin Krebs; Karl Winkler; Karl Otfried Schwab Journal: Pediatr Cardiol Date: 2009-11 Impact factor: 1.655
Authors: Karl Otfried Schwab; Jürgen Doerfer; Andreas Krebs; Kristin Krebs; Elisabeth Schorb; Kristiane Hallermann; Andrea Superti-Furga; Barbara Zieger; Winfried März; Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss; Karl Winkler Journal: Eur J Pediatr Date: 2007-03-27 Impact factor: 3.183
Authors: R Syha; M Peters; H Birnesser; A Niess; A Hirschmueller; H-H Dickhuth; M Sandrock Journal: Br J Sports Med Date: 2007-06-05 Impact factor: 13.800
Authors: Miriam König; Theresa Ullmann; Belén Pastor-Villaescusa; Robert Dalla-Pozza; Sarah Bohlig; Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss; Joseph Pattathu; Nikolaus A Haas; André Jakob Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-02-22 Impact factor: 4.241