Automated intima-media thickness: the Los Angeles Atherosclerosis Study

Ultrasound Med Biol. 1998 Sep;24(7):981-7. doi: 10.1016/s0301-5629(98)00069-6.

Abstract

Common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickness (IMT) from B-mode ultrasound is a widely used measure of early atherosclerosis. This study evaluated within- and between-sonographer reproducibility of automated edge-tracking IMT using a low-cost mobile scanner. B-mode images of the left and right CCA were acquired on two occasions (interval of 2-14 days) by two sonographers for 38 subjects, aged 31-75 y. Reproduciblity error was measured as the mean absolute difference (MAD+/-SEM) and the standard deviation of differences (SDdelta) between repeated measurements. Within-sonographer (MAD=0.027+/-0.006 mm; SDdelta=0.044 mm) and between-sonographer errors (MAD=0.041+/-0.008 mm; SDdelta=0.064) in IMT (mean=0.74, SD=0.14) of a single artery were small compared to those of other protocols. Combined averaging across both body positions and arteries reduced intersonographer MAD by 47% (MAD=0.022+/-0.003 mm; SDdelta=0.029 mm). These data demonstrate that the proposed IMT protocol reduces reproducibility error by more than 50% relative to several protocols used in other major studies.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Arteriosclerosis / complications
  • Arteriosclerosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Arteriosclerosis / physiopathology
  • Carotid Artery, Common / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carotid Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Stenosis / etiology
  • Carotid Stenosis / physiopathology
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Los Angeles
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Pilot Projects
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Tunica Intima / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ultrasonography
  • Video Recording