[Clinical application of image processing system and quantitative analysis of left ventriculogram and coronary...

Currently cine left ventriculography and coronary arteriography are still one of the most important methods in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease and other coronary arterial diseases. An image processing system, called "IA-87 Medical Image Processing System", for quantitative analysis of cine-coronary and left ventricular angiograms has been developed using IBM-PC/AT computer. The major functions of this system are: (1) left ventricular volume determination, i.e. left ventricular contour can be drawn automatically or semi-automatically, the systolic and diastolic volume of the left ventricle are calculated by Simpson's, length-area and chord-length methods. (2) left ventricular segmental wall motion analysis, using rectilinear and polar method, the segmental ejection fraction and normalized segmental contraction are determined. (3) dynamic display of the cardiac cycle. (4) coronary arterial lesion, such as stenosis, can be quantitatively analysed. In a series of cases free from cardiac disease the normal coronary artery (40 cases) and left ventricle (30 cases) were quantitatively analysed using "IA-87 Medical Image Processing System", and the normal value of coronary artery diameter and left ventricular function among Chinese obtained. At the same time, in a series of 45 cases with coronary heart disease (including anterior, posterior wall infarction, and left ventricular aneurysm in 15 respectively), quantitative analysis of the left ventricle was made. The results showed that the system is of significant value for quantitative diagnosis of ischemic heart disease as well as evaluation of therapeutic effect and prediction of prognosis.