Open AccessTopological Analysis for Arteriovenous Malformations via Computed Tomography Angiography
Author(s) -
Yuki Hata,
Keigo Osuga,
Tateki Kubo,
Ken Matsuda,
Koichi Tomita,
Mamoru Kikuchi,
Takashi Fujiwara,
Kenji Yano,
Ko Hosokawa
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plastic and reconstructive surgery. global open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.759
H-Index - 28
ISSN - 2169-7574
DOI - 10.1097/gox.0000000000000163
Subject(s) - angiography , computed tomography , radiology , tomography , simple (philosophy) , computed tomography angiography , tree (set theory) , medicine , computer science , mathematics , mathematical analysis , philosophy , epistemology
Background: Evaluating the progression of soft-tissue arteriovenous malformation (AVMs) is still problematic. To establish a quantitative method, we took a morphological approach.Methods: Normal blood vessels in early-phase 3D-computed tomography angiography images are theoretically expected to be tree-like structures without loops, whereas AVM blood vessels are expected to be mesh-like structures with loops. Simplified to the utmost limit, these vascular structures can be symbolized with wire-frame models composed of nodes and connecting edges, in which making an extra loop always needs one more of edges than of nodes.Results: Total amount of abnormal vascular structures is estimated from a simple equation: Number of vascular loops = 1 − ([Number of nodes] − [Number of edges]).Conclusion: Abnormalities of AVM vascular structures can be mathematically quantified using computed tomography angiography images