Abdominal Aorta Geometrical Segmentation And Calcification Detection Using CT Images

ARIEL PASCANER; DAMIAN CRAIEM; FEDERICO GUILENEA; ELIE MOUSSEAUX; MARIANO EZEQUIEL CASCIARO

Córdoba

Congreso; Congreso SABI 2017; 2017

Sociedad Argentina de Bioingeniería

Calcifications in different vascular beds were associated with an increased cardiovascular risk and mortality. Using a standard computed tomography cardiac scan, both coronary and thoracic aorta calcium scores improved the risk prediction of cardiac and non-cardiac vascular events. The simultaneous assessment of arterial geometry and calcifications can be accurately achieved using automated algorithms. In this study we propose to extend this analysis to the abdominal aorta. The feasibility of an updated tool to semi-automatically segment the abdominal aorta using ≈80 circles, calculating its morphology and detecting the calcifications, was evaluated. Scans of 9 patients, studied twice in a time span of 8 months, showed non-significant differences neither in geometrical variables nor in the calcium score. The proposed method based on a circle fitting method was fast and robust, allowing repeatable aortic measurements compatible with clinical tests.