A New 2D-Based Method for Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Quantification From Ultrasound Sequences

Area of Science:

• Vascular Ultrasound
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) ultrasound is key for assessing subclinical arteriosclerosis.
• Accurate IMT measurement is crucial for early detection and management of vascular disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel computerized algorithm for detecting instantaneous IMT changes in Common Carotid Artery (CCA) ultrasound images.
• To evaluate the algorithm's performance using maximum gradient and dynamic programming techniques.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 30 healthy subjects.
• Analysis of sequential 2D ultrasound frames capturing three cardiac cycles.
• Extraction of vessel intensity, gradient, and boundary continuity for IMT calculation.
• Comparison with conventional manual IMT measurement methods using Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman analysis.

Main Results:

• No significant difference was observed between the proposed computerized method and manual measurements for IMT in systole and diastole.
• High Pearson correlation coefficients (r = 0.94 for IMTs, r = 0.93 for IMTd) indicate strong agreement.
• Narrow limits of agreement further support the reliability of the new method.

Conclusions:

• The developed computerized algorithm provides accurate IMT measurements from sequential 2D ultrasound images of the CCA.
• This automated approach offers a reliable tool for evaluating subclinical arteriosclerosis.
• The method demonstrates significant potential for clinical application in vascular health assessment.