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Correcting common OCT artifacts enhances plaque classification and identification of higher-risk plaque features

Benn Jessney, Xu Chen, Sophie Gu, Adam Brown, Daniel Obaid Orcid Logo, 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

Swansea University Author: Daniel Obaid Orcid Logo

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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...

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Published in: Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine
ISSN: 1553-8389
Published: Elsevier BV 2024
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67055
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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.
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.