3-D quantitative assessment of coronary luminal morphology using biplane digital angiography

A method of three-dimensional reconstruction and quantitative description of coronary luminal shape was developed using constrained binary reconstruction of serial vessel cross sections from biplane digital cineangiograms, followed by the application of a quantitative measure of luminal cross-sectional roundedness. Such roundedness is inversely related to luminal eccentricity and thus may provide prognostic information about the stability of coronary stenoses. Examples of validation, in plexiglass coronary phantoms, and clinical feasibility, during routine angioplasty, are discussed. The authors conclude that the reconstructions of an in vivo human coronary artery, pre- and post-angioplasty, demonstrate preliminary feasibility. However, further refinement, validation, and correction for a number of potential error sources are necessary before clinical utility can be realized