Journal article 550 views 68 downloads
Correcting common OCT artifacts enhances plaque classification and identification of higher-risk plaque features
,
Charis Costopoulos,
Martin Goddard,
Nikunj Shah,
Hector Garcia-Garcia,
Yoshinobu Onuma,
Patrick Serruys,
Stephen P. Hoole,
Michael Mahmoudi,
Michael Roberts,
Martin Bennett
Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine, Volume: 73, Pages: 50 - 58
Swansea University Author:
Daniel Obaid
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© 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license.
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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.carrev.2024.06.023
Abstract
BackgroundOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is used widely to guide stent placement, identify higher-risk plaques, and assess mechanisms of drug efficacy. However, a range of common artifacts can prevent accurate plaque classification and measurements, and limit usable frames in research studies. W...
| Published in: | Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine |
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| ISSN: | 1553-8389 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2025
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67055 |
| Abstract: |
BackgroundOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is used widely to guide stent placement, identify higher-risk plaques, and assess mechanisms of drug efficacy. However, a range of common artifacts can prevent accurate plaque classification and measurements, and limit usable frames in research studies. We determined whether pre-processing OCT images corrects artifacts and improves plaque classification.MethodsWe examined both ex-vivo and clinical trial OCT pullbacks for artifacts that prevented accurate tissue identification and/or plaque measurements. We developed Fourier transform-based software that reconstructed images free of common OCT artifacts, and compared corrected and uncorrected images.Results48 % of OCT frames contained image artifacts, with 62 % of artifacts over or within lesions, preventing accurate measurement in 12 % frames. Pre-processing corrected >70 % of all artifacts, including thrombus, macrophage shadows, inadequate flushing, and gas bubbles. True tissue reconstruction was achieved in 63 % frames that would otherwise prevent accurate clinical measurements. Artifact correction was non-destructive and retained anatomical lumen and plaque parameters. Correction improved accuracy of plaque classification compared against histology and retained accurate assessment of higher-risk features. Correction also changed plaque classification and prevented artifact-related measurement errors in a clinical study, and reduced unmeasurable frames to <5 % ex-vivo and ~1 % in-vivo.ConclusionsFourier transform-based pre-processing corrects a wide range of common OCT artifacts, improving identification of higher-risk features and plaque classification, and allowing more of the whole dataset to be used for clinical decision-making and in research. Pre-processing can augment OCT image analysis systems both for stent optimization and in natural history or drug studies. |
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| Keywords: |
Atherosclerosis; Fibroatheroma; Optical coherence tomography; Artifact |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
This work was supported by British Heart Foundation Grants FS/19/66/34658, RG71070, RG84554, BHF Cambridge Centre for Research Excellence, EPSRC Cambridge Maths in Healthcare Centre Nr. EP/N014588/1, and Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. |
| Start Page: |
50 |
| End Page: |
58 |