Ralf W. Bauer MD, Presenter: Research Consultant, Siemens AG Speakers Bureau, Siemens AG

Ania Wrzesniak, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Andre Euler, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Josef Matthias Kerl MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, Siemens AG Speakers Bureau, Siemens AG

Dominik Bernhardt, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Siemens AG

Fernando Vega-Higuera, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Siemens AG

Thomas Josef Vogl MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Enlargement of the right ventricle is a sign of RV dysfunction, pressure or volume overload, or arrhythmogenic RV dysplasia and also a survival predictor in chronic pulmonary disease and pulmonary embolism. We evaluated the performance of prototype software for fully automated segmentation and volumetry of the right ventricle.

In 50 retrospectively ECG-gated coronary CT angiography scans the endsystolic (RVVmin) and enddiastolic (RVVmax) volume of the right ventricle was calculated fully automatically by prototype software. Manual slice segmentation by two independent radiologists served as the reference standard. Measurement periods were compared for these methods.

Right ventricular volumes calculated with the prototype software were in excellent agreement with the results from manual slice segmentation (Bland-Altman r = 0.95-0.98; p < 0.001; Lin´s correlation Rho = 0.87-0.96, p < 0.001) for RVVmax and RVVmin with excellent interobserver agreement between both radiologists (r = 0.97; p < 0.001). There was no need for manual correction of the RV borders as segmented by the software in a single case. Measurement period was significantly shorter with the software (153±9 s) than with manual slice segmentation (658±211 s).

The prototype software was able to demonstrate excellent performance in comparison to the reference standard. It promises not only to minimize postprocessing time but also to eliminate subjective selection of slices and cardiac phases.

RV volume and functional assessment with the introduced software may be recognized as a cost- and time-effective, single-stop alternative to costly multiple cardiac workups.

Bauer, R, Wrzesniak, A, Euler, A, Kerl, J, Bernhardt, D, Vega-Higuera, F, Vogl, T, Computer-based Fully Automated Right Ventricle Segmentation and Volumetry from ECG-gated Coronary CT Angiography Data: Comparison to Manual Slice Segmentation.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11034363.html