Ultrasound Imaging Media Layer Texture Analysis of the Carotid Artery
Date Issued
December 8, 2008
DOI
10.1109/BIBE.2008.4696801
Abstract
The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common
carotid artery (CCA) is widely used as an early indicator of
cardiovascular disease (CVD). It was proposed but not
thoroughly investigated that the media layer (ML), its
composition and texture, may be indicative for identifying the
risk of stroke and differentiating between patients of high and
low risk. In this study we investigate the usefulness of texture
analysis of the ML of the CCA. The study was performed on
100 longitudinal ultrasound images acquired from
asymptomatic subjects at risk of atherosclerosis. The images
were separated into three different age groups, namely below
50, 50 to 60, and above 60 years old. A total of 61 different
texture features were extracted from the intima-media complex
(IMC), ML and the intima layer (IL). The IMC and ML were
segmented manually by a neurovascular expert and
automatically by a snakes segmentation system. It was shown
that texture features extracted from the IL, ML and IMC are
significantly different (mean, gray scale median (GSM),
standard deviation, contrast, difference variance, periodicity)
and that some of them can be associated with the increase
(difference variance, entropy) or decrease (GSM) of patient’s
age. It was also shown that the GSM of the ML falls linearly
with increasing ML thickness (MLT) and with increasing age.
Further research on more subjects is required for estimating
other features that may provide information for patients at risk
of stroke.
carotid artery (CCA) is widely used as an early indicator of
cardiovascular disease (CVD). It was proposed but not
thoroughly investigated that the media layer (ML), its
composition and texture, may be indicative for identifying the
risk of stroke and differentiating between patients of high and
low risk. In this study we investigate the usefulness of texture
analysis of the ML of the CCA. The study was performed on
100 longitudinal ultrasound images acquired from
asymptomatic subjects at risk of atherosclerosis. The images
were separated into three different age groups, namely below
50, 50 to 60, and above 60 years old. A total of 61 different
texture features were extracted from the intima-media complex
(IMC), ML and the intima layer (IL). The IMC and ML were
segmented manually by a neurovascular expert and
automatically by a snakes segmentation system. It was shown
that texture features extracted from the IL, ML and IMC are
significantly different (mean, gray scale median (GSM),
standard deviation, contrast, difference variance, periodicity)
and that some of them can be associated with the increase
(difference variance, entropy) or decrease (GSM) of patient’s
age. It was also shown that the GSM of the ML falls linearly
with increasing ML thickness (MLT) and with increasing age.
Further research on more subjects is required for estimating
other features that may provide information for patients at risk
of stroke.