Quantitative coronary arteriography on digital flat-panel system.

On images acquired with a digital flat-panel (DFP) detector, known for its better image quality, the performance of a validated quantitative coronary arteriography (QCA) software, CAASII (Cardiovascular Angiography Analysis System or CAAS), and a DFP-dedicated QCA algorithm (flat-panel analysis software or FPAS) was compared in a phantom and a patient study. On phantom, FPAS performed with higher accuracy the quantification of the smallest tubes and the calibration of an empty catheter. The overall accuracy and precision for the quantification procedure was better for FPAS (0.07 +/- 0.04 mm) than for the CAAS (0.19 +/- 0.06 mm; P = 0.03 and P < 0.01, respectively). In the patient study, the main difference between the two algorithms was found in the small diameters: CAAS almost always gave higher values than FPAS for the minimal luminal diameter (P < 0.001) and could only give values up to 70% for diameter stenosis. In conclusion, the FPAS can be considered more appropriate for assessing severe stenoses on digital flat-panel images. (c) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.