Evaluation of three-dimensional segmentation algorithms for the identification of luminal and medial-adventitial borders in intravascular ultrasound images

• Published in: IEEE transactions on medical imaging Vol. 19; no. 10; pp. 996 - 1011
• Main Authors: Klingensmith, J.D., Shekhar, R., Vince, D.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.10.2000; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Algorithms; Anatomy; Arteries; Biological and medical sciences; Blood vessels; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular system; Coronary arteriosclerosis; Coronary Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Vessels - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Image analysis; Image reconstruction; Image segmentation; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; In Vitro Techniques; In vivo; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Morphology; Phantoms, Imaging; Surface morphology; Surface reconstruction; Three dimensional displays; Tunica Media - diagnostic imaging; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Sonography; Human; Segmentation; Coronary artery; In vitro; Image reconstruction; Adventitia; In vivo; Algorithm performance; Tridimensional image; Circulatory system; Edge detection; Test object
• ISSN: 0278-0062; 1558-254X
• DOI: 10.1109/42.887615

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides direct depiction of coronary artery anatomy, including plaque and vessel area, which is important in quantitative studies on the progression or regression of coronary artery disease. Traditionally, these studies have relied on manual evaluation, which is laborious, time consuming, and subject to large interobserver and intraobserver variability. A new technique, called active surface segmentation, alleviates these limitations and makes strides toward routine analyses. However, for three-dimensional (3-D) plaque assessment or 3-D reconstruction to become a clinical reality, methods must be developed which can analyze many images quickly. Presented is a comparison between two active surface techniques for three-dimensional segmentation of luminal and medial-adventitial borders. The force-acceleration technique and the neighborhood-search technique accurately detected both borders in vivo (r/sup 2/=0.95 and 0.99, Williams' index=0.67 and 0.65, and r/sup 2/=0.95 and 0.99, WI=0.67 and 0.70, respectively). However, the neighborhood-search technique was significantly faster and required less computation. Volume calculations for both techniques (r/sup 2/=0.99 and r/sup 2/=0.99) also agreed with a known-volume phantom. Active surface segmentation allows 3-D assessment of coronary morphology and further developments with this technology will provide clinical analysis tools.