Inter-vendor variability in strain measurements depends on software rather than image characteristics

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Echocardiography

Background:

• Echocardiographic strain measurements exhibit high inter-vendor variability due to proprietary algorithms.
• Vendor-independent software offers a potential solution to standardize strain analysis.
• The influence of vendor-specific image characteristics on vendor-independent software tracking is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the reproducibility, accuracy, and scar detection ability of vendor-independent strain measurements.
• To assess how vendor-specific image characteristics impact strain analysis using vendor-independent software.

Main Methods:

• Utilized vendor-independent software (TomTec Image Arena) on 63 patient datasets from four ultrasound vendors (GE, Philips, Siemens, Toshiba).
• Evaluated tracking feasibility, inter-vendor bias, test-re-test variability, and scar discrimination ability.
• Used cardiac magnetic resonance delayed enhancement imaging as the reference standard for scar definition.

Main Results:

• Tracking feasibility differed significantly across vendors (p < 0.001).
• Variability and reproducibility of global longitudinal strain (GLS) and segmental longitudinal strain (SLS) were similar among vendors.
• Scar detection capability and regional dysfunction identification showed no significant differences across vendors.

Conclusions:

• Strain measurement results are primarily dependent on the analysis software, with minimal influence from vendor-specific image characteristics.
• Vendor-independent software provides reproducible strain measurements and reliable scar detection across different ultrasound platforms.
• Standardization of echocardiographic strain analysis can be improved by using vendor-independent software.