RAPID aneurysm accurately measures aneurysm size on CT angiography compared to three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography

Abstract

Background

Cerebral aneurysms are often identified and characterized on non-invasive CT Angiography (CTA) images, but digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the gold standard for aneurysm evaluation.

Objective

We compared cerebral aneurysm size measurements as measured from CTA processed by a semi-automated artificial intelligence software program (RAPID Aneurysm) and three-dimensional rotational DSA (3D-DSA).

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with a cerebral aneurysm who underwent CTA and DSA with 3D reformations. CTA images were processed by RAPID Aneurysm to determine aneurysm height, width, and neck width. The reference standard was aneurysm measurements on 3D-DSA as measured by two neurointerventionalists. Both readers were blinded to RAPID Aneurysm measurements. Correlation and bias between these measurements were determined.

Results

Results from 50 patients with 50 aneurysms were compared. 32 patients (64%) were female. Median age was 65 (IQR: 56.25–71.75). 37 patients (74%) presented with ruptured aneurysms. The aneurysms represented a range of aneurysm sizes (1.9–33.3 mm; IQR 3.6–7.2 mm). RAPID Aneurysm size measurements showed excellent correlation and low bias (correlation, mean difference) when compared to the reference standard for aneurysm height (0.98, −0.9 mm), width (0.98, 0.1 mm), and neck width (0.94, 1.1 mm). The inter-reader comparison between the two neurointerventionalists was similarly excellent for aneurysm height (0.97, −0.4 mm), width (0.98, −0.2 mm), and neck width (0.89, 0.8 mm).

Conclusion

RAPID Aneurysm measurement of cerebral aneurysm height, width, and neck width on CTA is strongly correlated to expert neurointerventionalist measurements on 3D-DSA.