Accuracy and precision of the analytic calibration method in quantitative coronary arteriography

Current biplane imaging supports analytical calibration in quantitative coronary arteriography. Catheter calibration still is the most widespread technical standard to determine absolute lesion sizes from coronary angiograms. The more complex analytic calibration is supposed to have superior results, but has not been validated extensively yet. We examined the properties of analytic calibration by an in-vitro study with a wire grid X-rayed in common angiographic positionings, and compared the results with grid calibration. Analytic calibration proved to be highly accurate with an accuracy and precision of -0.21%/spl plusmn/1.21%. Our results clearly demonstrate the superiority of analytic calibration over catheter calibration, the former substantially improving accuracy of vessel measurement.