Measurement of Common Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness Using Automated Measurement Software

Original Article

Journal of Neurosonology 2010;2(1):27-30.

Abstract

Background
While the conventional vernier method has been the basic standard evaluation method, it has become possible to measure the intima-media thickness (IMT) of successive areas using commercial computer software.
Methods
The common carotid artery (CCA) IMT was assessed by manual measurements and with the newly developed B-mode ultrasound IMT measurement software, Intimascope. The manual measurements of the CCA-IMT were performed using the automated range calibrated trackball on the scanner approximately at 10 mm proximal to the carotid bulb. Using the Intimascope, four IMT values were measured: (1) the Y type IMT, (2) maximum IMT, (3) three-point average IMT, and (4) total average IMT. The intra- and interobserver reliability of the automatic detection and manual measurements were analyzed.
Results
High-resolution B-mode ultrasound measurements of the CCA-IMT were performed in 51 consecutive patients, with a mean of 64 years of age. The values of CCA-IMT, used for the total average IMT measurement, were highly correlated with the conventional manual measurements. Intraobserver reliability was high for all measurement methods (0.617 for manual measurement). The reliability was highest for the Y-evaluation IMT measurement, followed by total average IMT measurement. Interobserver reliability was high for all measurement methods except the maximum IMT measurement. The interobserver reliability for manual measurements was 0.631. The reliability was highest for the Y-evaluation IMT measurement and the three-point average IMT measurement.

Conclusion
s
Carotid IMT measurement using automated software provided reproducible results of IMT measurements comparing manual method.