Baseline reproducibility of B-mode ultrasonic measurement of carotid artery intima – media thickness

Abstract

The results demonstrate that by implementing standardized protocols and strict quality control procedures, highly reliable ultrasonic measurements of carotid artery IMT can be achieved in large multi-national trials.

Manual or semi‐automated edge detection of the maximal far wall common carotid intima–media thickness: a direct comparison

“…The effect of semi-automated edge detection on the extent of reduction in measurement variability depends on the contribution of sonographers and readers to the total variability. A number of studies have indicated that differences between sonographers have a relatively larger effect on the CIMT measurements than differences between readers [15][16][17]. Indeed, reproducibility results from a study with images that were read using semi-automated edge detection were similar to those reported from other studies in which CIMT reading was performed manually [16].…”

Long-term anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy reverses the progression of carotid intima–media thickness in female patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

“…ca-IMT measurements are widely used in observational studies to evaluate determinants and consequences of atherosclerosis (26)(27)(28)(29). Several studies have shown that increased ca-IMT confers risk of future coronary heart disease and stroke.…”

Diagnostic value of carotid intima–media thickness and plaque score for predicting target organ damage in patients with essential hypertension

“…According to the ELSA trial, the mean of the maximum IMT of the four far walls of the carotid bifurcations and the common carotid arteries (CBM max ) showed the highest reproducibility of ultrasound measurements (coefficient of reliability: 0.872), and the overall single maximum IMT ('Max-IMT' in the present study) also showed high reproducibility (coefficient of reliability: 0.794). 16 Although PS and Mean-IMT also showed significant association with target organ damage, the procedures of measuring them are relatively complicated and the reliability of the measurements is spatially dependent. Max-IMT measurement is quite simple and straightforward, because it is performed by only measuring the maximum thickness of intima-media including plaques.…”