Fully automated right ventricular volumetry from ECG-gated coronary CT angiography data: evaluation of prototype software

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2013 Feb;29(2):489-96. doi: 10.1007/s10554-012-0109-2. Epub 2012 Aug 14.

Abstract

Enlargement and dysfunction of the right ventricle (RV) is a sign and outcome predictor of many cardiopulmonary diseases. Due to the complex geometry of the RV exact volumetry is cumbersome and time-consuming. We evaluated the performance of prototype software for fully automated RV segmentation and volumetry from cardiac CT data. In 50 retrospectively ECG-gated coronary CT angiography scans the endsystolic (RVVmin) and enddiastolic (RVVmax) volume of the right ventricle was calculated fully automatically by prototype software. Manual slice segmentation by two independent radiologists served as the reference standard. Measurement periods were compared for both methods. RV volumes calculated with the software were in strong agreement with the results from manual slice segmentation (Bland-Altman r = 0.95-0.98; p < 0.001; Lin's correlation Rho = 0.87-0.96, p < 0.001) for RVVmax and RVVmin with excellent interobserver agreement between both radiologists (r = 0.97; p < 0.001). The measurement period was significantly shorter with the software (153 ± 9 s) than with manual slice segmentation (658 ± 211 s). The prototype software demonstrated very good performance in comparison to the reference standard. It promises robust RV volume results and minimizes postprocessing time.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Automation
  • Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques / methods*
  • Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques / standards
  • Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* / standards
  • Coronary Angiography / methods*
  • Coronary Angiography / standards
  • Electrocardiography* / standards
  • Female
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Ventricles / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted* / standards
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Software Validation*
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / physiopathology
  • Ventricular Function, Right