Black D, Xiao X, Molloi S. Integrated intensity-based technique for coronary artery calcium mass measurement: A phantom study.
Med Phys 2023;
50:4930-4942. [PMID:
36852776 DOI:
10.1002/mp.16326]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Agatston scoring, the traditional method for measuring coronary artery calcium, is limited in its ability to accurately quantify low-density calcifications, among other things. The inaccuracy of Agatston scoring is likely due partly to the arbitrary thresholding requirement of Agatston scoring.
PURPOSE
A calcium quantification technique that removes the need for arbitrary thresholding and is more accurate, sensitive, reproducible, and robust is needed. Improvements to calcium scoring will likely improve patient risk stratification and outcome.
METHODS
The integrated Hounsfield technique was adapted for calcium scoring (integrated calcium mass). Integrated calcium mass requires no thresholding and includes all calcium information within an image. This study utilized phantom images acquired by G van Praagh et al., with calcium hydroxyapatite (HA) densities in the range of 200-800 mgHAcm-3 to measure calcium according to integrated calcium mass and Agatston scoring. The calcium mass was known, which allowed for accuracy, reproducibility, sensitivity, and robustness comparisons between integrated calcium mass and Agatston scoring. Multiple CT vendors (Canon, GE, Philips, Siemens) were used during the image acquisition phase, which provided a more robust comparison between the two calcium scoring techniques. Three calcification inserts of different diameters (1, 3, and 5 mm) and different HA densities (200, 400, and 800 mgHAcm-3 ) were placed within the phantom. The effect of motion was also analyzed using a dynamic phantom. All dynamic phantom calcium inserts were 5.0 ± 0.1 mm in diameter with a length of 10.0 ± 0.1 mm. The four different densities were 196 ± 3, 380 ± 2, 408 ± 2, and 800 ± 2 mgHAcm-3 .
RESULTS
Integrated calcium mass was more accurate than Agatston scoring for stationary scans (R M S E I n t e g r a t e d = 2.87 $RMS{E}_{Integrated} = 2.87$ ,R M S E A g a t s o n = 4.07 $RMS{E}_{Agatson} = 4.07$ ) and motion affected scans (R M S E I n t e g r a t e d = 9.70 $RMS{E}_{Integrated} = 9.70$ ,R M S E A g a t s o n = 19.98 $RMS{E}_{Agatson} = 19.98$ ). On average, integrated calcium mass was more reproducible than Agatston scoring for two of the CT vendors. The percentage of false-negative and false-positive calcium scores were lower for integrated calcium mass (15.00%, 0.00%) than Agatston scoring (28.33%, 6.67%). Integrated calcium mass was more robust to changes in scan parameters than Agatston scoring.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that integrated calcium mass is more accurate, reproducible, and sensitive than Agatston scoring on a variety of different CT vendors. The substantial reduction in false-negative scores for integrated calcium mass is likely to improve risk-stratification for patients undergoing calcium scoring and their potential outcome.
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