TY - JOUR
T1 - Validation of a Length-Adjusted Abdominal Arterial Calcium Score Method for Contrast-Enhanced CT Scans
AU - Devia-Rodriguez, Raul
AU - Derksen, Maikel
AU - de Groot, Kristian
AU - Vedder, Issi R.
AU - Zeebregts, Clark J.
AU - Bokkers, Reinoud P.H.
AU - Pol, Robert A.
AU - de Vries, Jean Paul P.M.
AU - Schuurmann, Richte C.L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/6
Y1 - 2023/6
N2 - Background: The Agatston score on noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scans is the gold standard for calcium load determination. However, contrast-enhanced CT is commonly used for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs), such as peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Currently, there is no validated method to determine calcium load in the aorta and peripheral arteries with a contrast-enhanced CT. This study validated a length-adjusted calcium score (LACS) method for contrast-enhanced CT scans. Method: The LACS (calcium volume in mm3/arterial length in cm) in the abdominal aorta was calculated using four-phase liver CT scans of 30 patients treated between 2017 and 2021 at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) with no aortic disease. Noncontrast CT scans were segmented with a 130 Hounsfield units (HU) threshold, and a patient-specific threshold was used for contrast-enhanced CTs. The LACS was calculated and compared from both segmentations. Secondly, the interobserver variability and the influence of slice thickness (0.75 mm vs. 2.0 mm) was determined. Results: There was a high correlation between the LACS from contrast-enhanced CT scans and the LACS of noncontrast CTs (R2 = 0.98). A correction factor of 1.9 was established to convert the LACS derived from contrast-enhanced CT to noncontrast CT scans. LACS interobserver agreement on contrast-enhanced CT was excellent (1.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.0–1.0). The 0.75 mm CT threshold was 541 (459–625) HU compared with 500 (419–568) HU on 2 mm CTs (p = 0.15). LACS calculated with both thresholds was not significantly different (p = 0.63). Conclusion: The LACS seems to be a robust method for scoring calcium load on contrast-enhanced CT scans in arterial segments with various lengths.
AB - Background: The Agatston score on noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scans is the gold standard for calcium load determination. However, contrast-enhanced CT is commonly used for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs), such as peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Currently, there is no validated method to determine calcium load in the aorta and peripheral arteries with a contrast-enhanced CT. This study validated a length-adjusted calcium score (LACS) method for contrast-enhanced CT scans. Method: The LACS (calcium volume in mm3/arterial length in cm) in the abdominal aorta was calculated using four-phase liver CT scans of 30 patients treated between 2017 and 2021 at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) with no aortic disease. Noncontrast CT scans were segmented with a 130 Hounsfield units (HU) threshold, and a patient-specific threshold was used for contrast-enhanced CTs. The LACS was calculated and compared from both segmentations. Secondly, the interobserver variability and the influence of slice thickness (0.75 mm vs. 2.0 mm) was determined. Results: There was a high correlation between the LACS from contrast-enhanced CT scans and the LACS of noncontrast CTs (R2 = 0.98). A correction factor of 1.9 was established to convert the LACS derived from contrast-enhanced CT to noncontrast CT scans. LACS interobserver agreement on contrast-enhanced CT was excellent (1.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.0–1.0). The 0.75 mm CT threshold was 541 (459–625) HU compared with 500 (419–568) HU on 2 mm CTs (p = 0.15). LACS calculated with both thresholds was not significantly different (p = 0.63). Conclusion: The LACS seems to be a robust method for scoring calcium load on contrast-enhanced CT scans in arterial segments with various lengths.
KW - atherosclerosis
KW - calcified plaques
KW - calcium score
KW - four-dimensional computed tomography
KW - vascular diseases
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85161747120&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/diagnostics13111934
DO - 10.3390/diagnostics13111934
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85161747120
SN - 2075-4418
VL - 13
JO - Diagnostics
JF - Diagnostics
IS - 11
M1 - 1934
ER -