Diagnostic performance of an algorithm for automated collateral scoring on computed tomography angiography

Lennard Wolff*, Simone M Uniken Venema, Sven P R Luijten, Jeannette Hofmeijer, Jasper M Martens, Marie Louise E Bernsen, Adriaan C G M van Es, Pieter Jan van Doormaal, Diederik W J Dippel, Wim van Zwam, Theo van Walsum, Aad van der Lugt, MR CLEAN Registry Investigators

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Outcome of endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke patients depends on collateral circulation to provide blood supply to the ischemic territory. We evaluated the performance of a commercially available algorithm for assessing the collateral score (CS) in acute ischemic stroke patients.

METHODS: Retrospectively, baseline CTA scans (≤ 3-mm slice thickness) with an intracranial carotid artery (ICA), middle cerebral artery segment M1 or M2 occlusion, from the MR CLEAN Registry (n = 1627) were evaluated. All CTA scans were evaluated for visual CS (0-3) by eight expert radiologists (reference standard). A Web-based AI algorithm quantified the collateral circulation (0-100%) for correctly detected occlusion sides. Agreement between visual CS and categorized automated CS (0: 0%, 1: > 0- ≤ 50%, 2: > 50- < 100%, 3: 100%) was assessed. Area under the curve (AUC) values for classifying patients in having good (CS: 2-3) versus poor (CS: 0-1) collaterals and for predicting functional independence (90-day modified Rankin Scale 0-2) were computed. Influence of CTA acquisition timing after contrast material administration was reported.

RESULTS: In the analyzed scans (n = 1024), 59% agreement was found between visual CS and automated CS. An AUC of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.85-0.90) was found for discriminating good versus poor CS. Timing of CTA acquisition did not influence discriminatory performance. AUC for predicting functional independence was 0.66 (95% CI 0.62-0.69) for automated CS, similar to visual CS 0.64 (95% CI 0.61-0.68).

CONCLUSIONS: The automated CS performs similar to radiologists in determining a good versus poor collateral score and predicting functional independence in acute ischemic stroke patients with a large vessel occlusion.

KEY POINTS: • Software for automated quantification of intracerebral collateral circulation on computed tomography angiography performs similar to expert radiologists in determining a good versus poor collateral score. • Software for automated quantification of intracerebral collateral circulation on computed tomography angiography performs similar to expert radiologists in predicting functional independence in acute ischemic stroke patients with a large vessel occlusion. • The timing of computed tomography angiography acquisition after contrast material administration did not influence the performance of automated quantification of the collateral status.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5711-5718
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Radiology
Volume32
Issue number8
Early online date4 Mar 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2022

Keywords

  • Algorithms
  • CT ANGIOGRAPHY
  • Collateral circulation
  • Ischemic stroke

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