Temporal averaging for quantification of lumen dimensions in intravascular ultrasound images

Li, Wenguang; Gussenhoven, Elma J.; Zhong, Yin; The, Salem H.K.; Pieterman, Herman; van Urk, Hero; Bom, Klaas

« Previous Next »Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
Volume 20, Issue 2 , Pages 117-122, 1994

Temporal averaging for quantification of lumen dimensions in intravascular ultrasound images

Wenguang Li
- Department of Thoraxcenter, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of The Interuniversity Cardiology Institute, The Netherlands
Elma J. Gussenhoven
- Address correspondence to: E. J. Gussenhoven, Thoraxcenter (Ee 2312), Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Thoraxcenter, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of The Interuniversity Cardiology Institute, The Netherlands
Yin Zhong
- Department of Thoraxcenter, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Salem H.K. The
- Department of Thoraxcenter, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of The Interuniversity Cardiology Institute, The Netherlands
Herman Pieterman
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Hero van Urk
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Klaas Bom
- Department of Thoraxcenter, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of The Interuniversity Cardiology Institute, The Netherlands

Received 4 May 1993; received in revised form 27 August 1993

Abstract

Quantitative analysis of arterial dimensions from high frequency intravascular ultrasound images (30 MHz) may be hampered by strong blood scattering. Replacement of blood by saline is one method to provide a clear view of the arterial lumen; another method is that of temporal averaging of successive ultrasound images. The accuracy of this latter method was tested by comparing the lumen area measurements on the temporal-averaged image, with the data of the same cross-section obtained from the single-frame and saline-filled images. The mean lumen area measured on the temporal-averaged images was similar to that measured on the single-frame images (mean difference: −0.02 ± 1.16 mm²; p = ns). The mean lumen area of the saline-filled images was 8% larger than the values obtained from the temporal-averaged and single-frame images (mean difference: −1.14 ± 0.85 mm², p < 0.05), probably due to the difference in sound velocity between saline and blood. Intraobserver variation in the averaging method were 2.4 times smaller than the measurements of the single-frame images and close to the data obtained by saline injection (variation coefficient: single-frame: 8.8%; temporal-averaged: 3.6%; saline-filled: 2.9%). It is concluded that analysis from temporal-averaged images is more efficient, enabling accurate and reproducible measurement of the luminal dimensions from images containing blood scattering echoes. This technique is suitable to replace the laborious saline injection method and facilitates off-line quantitative analysis.

Keywords: Quantitative analysis, Lumen dimensions, Blood interference, Temporal averaging

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