BACKGROUND: Endoscopy and biopsy are used to diagnose coeliac disease. There are, however, observer-dependent interpretations of the degree of villous atrophy in biopsies. A pilot study using quantitative image-processing procedures was performed to quantify the degree of villous atrophy in patients with coeliac disease. METHOD: The degree of villous atrophy in duodenal biopsy images was quantified by calculating the ratio of villous edge-to-piecewise arc length (E/P ratio), and this value was compared with the blinded assessment of Marsh score for degree of villous atrophy. RESULTS: Mean E/P ratios for n = 31 biopsy images, 2.76 (SD 0.44) (Marsh IIIa), 1.91 (0.50) (Marsh IIIb) and 1.18 (0.22) (Marsh IIIc), were significantly different (p = 0.006). Based on non-parametric testing, the E/P ratios were inversely correlated with Marsh scores (Spearman coefficient rho = -0.798, Kendall tau = -0.681; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Biopsy images quantified by image analysis correlated exceedingly well with the histopathological grade of villous atrophy. Since quantified measurements are real-numbered values and lack observer bias, measurement of villous atrophy based on image analysis lends itself to standardisation of histological grading.
BACKGROUND: Endoscopy and biopsy are used to diagnose coeliac disease. There are, however, observer-dependent interpretations of the degree of villous atrophy in biopsies. A pilot study using quantitative image-processing procedures was performed to quantify the degree of villous atrophy in patients with coeliac disease. METHOD: The degree of villous atrophy in duodenal biopsy images was quantified by calculating the ratio of villous edge-to-piecewise arc length (E/P ratio), and this value was compared with the blinded assessment of Marsh score for degree of villous atrophy. RESULTS: Mean E/P ratios for n = 31 biopsy images, 2.76 (SD 0.44) (Marsh IIIa), 1.91 (0.50) (Marsh IIIb) and 1.18 (0.22) (Marsh IIIc), were significantly different (p = 0.006). Based on non-parametric testing, the E/P ratios were inversely correlated with Marsh scores (Spearman coefficient rho = -0.798, Kendall tau = -0.681; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Biopsy images quantified by image analysis correlated exceedingly well with the histopathological grade of villous atrophy. Since quantified measurements are real-numbered values and lack observer bias, measurement of villous atrophy based on image analysis lends itself to standardisation of histological grading.
Authors: Edward J Ciaccio; Christina A Tennyson; Govind Bhagat; Suzanne K Lewis; Peter H Green Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2012-05-30 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Edward J Ciaccio; Govind Bhagat; Christina A Tennyson; Suzanne K Lewis; Lincoln Hernandez; Peter H R Green Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2010-09-16 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Edward J Ciaccio; Christina A Tennyson; Govind Bhagat; Suzanne K Lewis; Peter Hr Green Journal: Biomed Eng Online Date: 2010-09-04 Impact factor: 2.819