Carotid artery stenosis quantification: concordance analysis between radiologist and semi-automatic computer software by using Multi-Detector-Row CT angiography

Purpose: Carotid artery stenosis quantification is still considered a leading parameter in the choice of the therapeutic option. Our purpose was to asses the concordance between radiologist and a semi-automatic computer software in the stenosis quantification of carotid artery studied by using a Multi-Detector-Row CT angiography (MDCTA).

Methods and material: 45 patients studied by using a 40-detector row CT scanner were retrospectively analyzed. Carotid artery stenosis was quantified by one high experienced radiologist in vessel analysis and by using a dedicated software. Carotid artery stenosis was calculated according to the ECST method. Bland-Altman statistics was used to measure the inter- and intra-concordance between radiologist and software and correlation coefficient between measures were performed by using nonparametric Spearmann correlation statistic. A p value<0.05 was considered to mean statistical significance.

Results: A strength correlation according to linear regression (correlation Spearman'ρ coefficient=0.975; p<0.0001) between radiologist and software of vessel analysis was observed. Between first and second stenosis of carotid artery quantification performed by radiologist and software of vessel analysis we observed a Spearman'ρ coefficient=0.943 (p<0.0001) and a Spearman'ρ coefficient=0.9879; (p<0.0001) respectively.

Conclusions: Our results indicated that there is a strength correlation according to linear regression between stenosis of carotid artery quantification performed by radiologist and semi-automatic software. Reproducibility between measurements performed by semi-automatic software are higher compared to radiologist.