[Quantitative angiography: update for peripheral vascular applications].

Abstract

Visual estimation of vessel diameter is unreliable and observer-dependent. With digital angiography, software for accurate quantification of arterial diameter are available. They allow: (1) selection of equipment of appropriate size (balloons, stents, etc) during revascularization procedures, (2) objective evaluation of the results of such procedures, (3) comparison between follow-up measurements and initial measurements and (4) provide reproducible data in the case of multicenter studies. The widespread availability of digital systems has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in the number of software packages for quantification. The present article reviews some of the currently available methods for quantification, presents the advantages and pitfalls of each system, and outlines their limits.