Spatial orientation of cross-sectional images of coronary arteries: point of view in intracoronary imaging

Cardiovascular Ultrasound

Research

Erling Falk¹  Troels Thim² 

[1] The Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital (Skejby) and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark;The Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital (Skejby) and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark;Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital (Skejby), Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, DK-8200, Aarhus, Denmark;

关键词: Intracoronary imaging;    Intravascular ultrasound;    Optical coherence tomography;    Tissue characterization;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1476-7120-10-12

 received in 2012-02-11, accepted in 2012-03-22,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn studies where cross-sectional images of coronary arteries obtained with different imaging modalities are compared, the importance of correct co-localization and matching of images along the coronary artery longitudinal axis is obvious. However, it appears neglected that correct spatial orientation of the cross-sectional plane may not be obtainable just by rotating the images to ensure co-localization of identifiable landmarks such as sidebranches. A cross-section has two sides, one facing proximally and the other distally, and pairs of images reconstructed corresponding to these opposite points of view are mirror images of each other and not superimposable. This may be difficult if not impossible to recognize and unrecognized it will give rise to flawed results in the development and validation of imaging technologies aimed at plaque characterization (tissue mapping). We determined the imagined point of view for three commercially available intracoronary imaging systems used by invasive cardiologists and illustrate its importance in imaging modality validation.Methods and ResultsWe made an asymmetric phantom and investigated it with two different intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) systems and one optical coherence tomography (OCT) system. The asymmetry of the phantom allowed determination of the spatial orientation of the cross-sectional images. On all tested systems, an observer should imagine herself/himself standing proximal to the cross-section when looking at the intravascular images.ConclusionsThe tested intracoronary imaging modalities displayed cross-sectional images with a spatial orientation corresponding to a proximal point of view. Knowledge of the spatial orientation is mandatory when comparing and validating different imaging modalities aimed at plaque characterization.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Thim and Falk; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012