Reproducibility of calcified lesion quantification: A longitudinal intravascular ultrasound study

In view of a prospective intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) study, the reprodu cibility of the extent of the calcified lesion in IVUS images derived from separate pull-back maneuvers was assessed. Patients (n = 34) were imaged wi th IVUS before and after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and at 1-y follow-up, In the presence of a calcified lesion, the largest are and the length of the matched calcified lesions was assessed, Interobserver dif ferences in are measurements were low (less than or equal to 0.7%), with lo w coefficients of variation (less than or equal to 5.8%), Similarly, intere xamination differences in are and length measurements were small (less than or equal to 1.1%), with low coefficients of variation (less than or equal to 3.2%), At follow-up, a nonsignificant increase in both the are (1.9%) an d length (1.7%) of the calcified lesion was observed. This study showed tha t measurements of the calcified lesion are highly reproducible; changes see n at 1-y follow-up were not significant. We conclude that IVUS may be used to monitor the effect of medical intervention on the extent of the calcifie d lesion in a longitudinal study. (C) 2000 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.