Optimisation of coronary vascular territorial 3D echocardiographic strain imaging using computed tomography: a feasibility study using image fusion

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Current echocardiographic assessments of coronary vascular territories use the 17-segment model and are based on general assumptions of coronary vascular distribution. Fusion of 3D echocardiography (3DE) with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) derived coronary anatomy may provide a more accurate assessment of left ventricular (LV) territorial function. We aimed to test the feasibility of MDCT and 3DE fusion and to compare territorial longitudinal strain (LS) using the 17-segment model and a MDCT-guided vascular model. 28 patients underwent 320-slice MDCT and transthoracic 3DE on the same day followed by invasive coronary angiography. MDCT (Aquilion ONE, ViSION Edition, Toshiba Medical Systems) and 3DE apical full-volume images (Artida, Toshiba Medical Systems) were fused offline using a dedicated workstation (prototype fusion software, Toshiba Medical Systems). 3DE/MDCT image alignment was assessed by 3 readers using a 4-point scale. Territorial LS was assessed using the 17-segment model and the MDCT-guided vascular model in territories supplied by significantly stenotic and non-significantly stenotic vessels. Successful 3DE/MDCT image alignment was obtained in 86 and 93 % of cases for reader one, and reader two and three, respectively. Fair agreement on the quality of automatic image alignment (intra-class correlation = 0.40) and the success of manual image alignment (Fleiss' Kappa = 0.40) among the readers was found. In territories supplied by non-significantly stenotic left circumflex arteries, LS was significantly higher in the MDCT-guided vascular model compared to the 17-segment model: -15.00 ± 7.17 (mean ± standard deviation) versus -11.87 ± 4.09 (p < 0.05). Fusion of MDCT and 3DE is feasible and provides physiologically meaningful displays of myocardial function.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
Volume32
Issue number12
Pages (from-to)1715-1723
Number of pages9
ISSN1569-5794
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2016

    Research areas

  • Aged, Computed Tomography Angiography, Coronary Angiography, Coronary Stenosis, Coronary Vessels, Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional, Feasibility Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Cardiovascular, Multidetector Computed Tomography, Multimodal Imaging, Observer Variation, Predictive Value of Tests, Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted, Reproducibility of Results, Ventricular Function, Left, Evaluation Studies, Journal Article

ID: 179083220