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Global left ventricular function in cardiac CT. Evaluation of an automated 3D region-growing segmentation algorithm

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Abstract

The purpose was to evaluate a new semi-automated 3D region-growing segmentation algorithm for functional analysis of the left ventricle in multislice CT (MSCT) of the heart. Twenty patients underwent contrast-enhanced MSCT of the heart (collimation 16×0.75 mm; 120 kV; 550 mAseff). Multiphase image reconstructions with 1-mm axial slices and 8-mm short-axis slices were performed. Left ventricular volume measurements (end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, ejection fraction and stroke volume) from manually drawn endocardial contours in the short axis slices were compared to semi-automated region-growing segmentation of the left ventricle from the 1-mm axial slices. The post-processing-time for both methods was recorded. Applying the new region-growing algorithm in 13/20 patients (65%), proper segmentation of the left ventricle was feasible. In these patients, the signal-to-noise ratio was higher than in the remaining patients (3.2±1.0 vs. 2.6±0.6). Volume measurements of both segmentation algorithms showed an excellent correlation (all P≤0.0001); the limits of agreement for the ejection fraction were 2.3±8.3 ml. In the patients with proper segmentation the mean post-processing time using the region-growing algorithm was diminished by 44.2%. On the basis of a good contrast-enhanced data set, a left ventricular volume analysis using the new semi-automated region-growing segmentation algorithm is technically feasible, accurate and more time-effective.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital (RWTH) Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52057, Aachen, Germany

    Georg Mühlenbruch, Marco Das, Christian Hohl, Joachim E. Wildberger, Rolf W. Günther & Andreas H. Mahnken

  2. Siemens Medical Solutions, Forchheim, Germany

    Daniel Rinck & Thomas G. Flohr

  3. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital (RWTH) Aachen, Aachen, Germany

    Ralf Koos & Christian Knackstedt

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  1. Georg Mühlenbruch
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  2. Marco Das
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  3. Christian Hohl
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  4. Joachim E. Wildberger
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  5. Daniel Rinck
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  6. Thomas G. Flohr
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  7. Ralf Koos
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  8. Christian Knackstedt
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  9. Rolf W. Günther
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  10. Andreas H. Mahnken
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Correspondence to Georg Mühlenbruch.

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Mühlenbruch, G., Das, M., Hohl, C. et al. Global left ventricular function in cardiac CT. Evaluation of an automated 3D region-growing segmentation algorithm. Eur Radiol 16, 1117–1123 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-0079-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-0079-z

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