[Proposal of a standardized graphic system for collecting coronary angiographic data. Processing with a personal...

A standardized method for the representation and filing of coronary angiographies is proposed. Semi-automatic reference is guided by a computer algorithm. The final report displays a diagram which shows all the information in graphic and alpha-numeric form. Personalized coronary anatomy is drawn using the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) guidelines. The algorithm semi-automatically designs coronary segments according to CASS criteria. Five levels of percentage reduction in luminal transverse diameter (25, 50, 75, 90, 100%) can be represented. In addition, plaque morphology (concentric or eccentric, greater or less than 0.5 cm in size) and plaque complications, (calcification, ulceration, thrombosis, aneurysmal dilatation, wall irregularity, and diffuse disease) can be added as additional information. Twenty pathological entities (stenosis or plaque complications) can be filed for each patient. Collateral circulation can be represented by identifying the site of origin, one or more mid-points on the pathway, and the point of contact with the recipient vessel. As many as 10 single pathways can be identified. The same method can represent and file by-pass grafting using different symbols. Data can be easily put into the computer in three to four minutes. Coding and filing are automatically stored. Ten Mb can contain 4355 reports, including patient data and five lines of optional comment. Data can be retrieved in the original graphic form or the system can analyze filed data and retrieve series of patients with a given angiographic pattern. This option enables comprehensive research to be performed on any patient population, selecting subgroups of patients with specific anatomic and/or pathologic characteristics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)