Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Marten, K
• Dicken, V
• Kneitz, C
• Hoehmann, M
• Kenn, W
• Hahn, D
• Engelke, C

Titel

Computer-assisted quantification of interstitial lung disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis: Preliminary technical validation

Ist Teil von

• European journal of radiology, 2009-11, Vol.72 (2), p.278-283

Ort / Verlag

Amsterdam: Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2009

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Abstract Purpose To validate a threshold-based prototype software application (MeVis PULMO 3D) for quantification of chronic interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using variable threshold settings for segmentation of diseased lung areas. Methods Twenty-two patients with rheumatoid arthritis were included and underwent thin-section CT (4 × 1.25 mm collimation). CT scans were assessed by two observers for extent of ILD (EoILD), and twice by MeVis PULMO 3D for each protocol. MeVis PULMO 3D used four segmentation threshold (ST) settings (ST = −740, −780, −800 and −840 HU). Pulmonary function tests were obtained in all patients. Statistical evaluation used 95% limits of agreement (LoA) and linear regression analysis. Results There was total concordance between the software measurements. Interobserver agreement was good (LoA = −28.36 to 17.58%). EoILD by readers correlated strongly with DLCO ( r = −0.702, p < 0.0001) and moderately with FVC ( r = −0.523, p = 0.018). There was close correlation between readers and MeVis PULMO 3D with best results for ST <780 HU (EoILD vs. MeVis PULMO 3D: r = 0.650 for ST = −800 and −840 HU, respectively; p = 0.002). MeVis PULMO 3D correlated best with DLCO at ST of −800 HU ( r = −0.44, −0.49, −0.58 and −0.57 for ST = −740, −780, −800 and −840, respectively; p = 0.007–0.05) and moderately with FVC ( r = −0.44, −0.51, −0.59 and −0.45 for ST = −740, −780, −800 and −840), respectively; p = 0.007–0.05). Conclusion The MeVis PULMO 3D system used holds promise to become a valuable instrument for quantification of chronic ILD in patients with RA when using the threshold value of −800 HU, with evidence of the closest correlations, both with human observers and physiologic impairment.