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ABSTRACT: Purpose
Calcification is an important prognostic factor in aortic valve stenosis. However, there is no ultrasound (US) method available to accurately quantify calcification in this setting to date. We aimed to validate a new US method for measuring the amount of calcium in an in vitro model, and compare it to computed tomography (CT), the current imaging gold standard.Materials and methods
An agar phantom (2% agar) was made, containing 9 different amounts of calcium-hydroxyapatite Ca5(PO4)3OH (2 to 50 mg). The phantoms were imaged with micro-CT and US (10 MHz probe). The calcium area (areacalcium) and its maximum pixel value (PVmax) were obtained. These values were summed to calculate CT and US calcium scores (?(areacalcium × PVmax)) and volumes (?areacalcium). Both US- and CT-calcium scores were compared with the calcium amounts, and with each other.Results
Both calcium scores correlated significantly with the calcium amount (R2 = 0.9788, p<0.0001 and R2 = 0.8154, p<0.0001 for CT and US respectively). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between US and CT for calcium volumes (R2 = 0.7392, p<0.0001) and scores (R2 = 0.7391, p<0.0001).Conclusion
We developed a new US method that accurately quantifies the amount of calcium in an in vitro model. Moreover it is strongly correlated with CT.
SUBMITTER: Gillis K
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4747484 | biostudies-literature | 2016
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Gillis Kris K Bala Gezim G Roosens Bram B Remory Isabel I Hernot Sophie S Droogmans Steven S Cosyns Bernard B
PloS one 20160209 2
<h4>Purpose</h4>Calcification is an important prognostic factor in aortic valve stenosis. However, there is no ultrasound (US) method available to accurately quantify calcification in this setting to date. We aimed to validate a new US method for measuring the amount of calcium in an in vitro model, and compare it to computed tomography (CT), the current imaging gold standard.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>An agar phantom (2% agar) was made, containing 9 different amounts of calcium-hydroxyapatit ...[more]