Semi-automated International Cartilage Repair Society scoring of equine articular cartilage lesions in optical coherence tomography images.
Abstract: Arthroscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a promising tool for the detailed evaluation of articular cartilage injuries. However, OCT-based articular cartilage scoring still relies on the operator's visual estimation. Objective: To test the hypothesis that semi-automated International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) scoring of chondral lesions seen in OCT images could enhance intra- and interobserver agreement of scoring and its accuracy. Methods: Validation study using equine cadaver tissue. Methods: Osteochondral samples (n = 99) were prepared from 18 equine metacarpophalangeal joints and imaged using OCT. Custom-made software was developed for semi-automated ICRS scoring of cartilage lesions on OCT images. Scoring was performed visually and semi-automatically by five observers, and levels of inter- and intraobserver agreement were calculated. Subsequently, OCT-based scores were compared with ICRS scores based on light microscopy images of the histological sections of matching locations (n = 82). Results: When semi-automated scoring of the OCT images was performed by multiple observers, mean levels of intraobserver and interobserver agreement were higher than those achieved with visual OCT scoring (83% vs. 77% and 74% vs. 33%, respectively). Histology-based scores from matching regions of interest agreed better with visual OCT-based scoring than with semi-automated OCT scoring; however, the accuracy of the software was improved by optimising the threshold combinations used to determine the ICRS score. Conclusions: Images were obtained from cadavers. Conclusions: Semi-automated scoring software improved the reproducibility of ICRS scoring of chondral lesions in OCT images and made scoring less observer-dependent. The image analysis and segmentation techniques adopted in this study warrant further optimisation to achieve better accuracy with semi-automated ICRS scoring. In addition, studies on in vivo applications are required.
© 2016 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2016-10-20 PubMed ID: 27592527DOI: 10.1111/evj.12637Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research paper explores the use of semi-automated scoring software to more accurately identify and quantify lesions in equine articular cartilage using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) – a technique aimed at producing, in essence, better results and reducing manual observer input thus minimizing human error.
Research Objectives and Hypothesis
- The main objective of this research was to improve upon the current standard of visual examination in OCT scanning of equine cartilage lesions by introducing a novel semi-automated scoring system.
- The researchers hypothesized that using this new approach would increase both accuracy in scoring and improve agreement between different observers, cutting down on subjective discrepancies in analysis.
Methods
- The research was conducted by preparing osteochondral samples from equine metacarpophalangeal joints. A total of 99 such samples were used.
- These samples were scanned using OCT and then scored both visually and by the semi-automated system.
- The observers evaluated the images and rated them according to the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) scoring system.
- Five different observers carried out the scoring to assess the level of observer agreement in scoring.
- The scores derived from the semi-automated system were further compared with the scores attained through an assessment of histological sections under a light microscope.
- The software used for semi-automated scoring was then optimized and improved based on these comparisons.
Results
- Results showed that the semi-automated scoring system demonstrated superior intraobserver and interobserver agreement when compared to the traditional manual scoring method.
- However, when compared with scores derived from histology-based assessment of matching regions, image-based scoring was found to be more accurate than the semi-automated method.
- Through further refinement of the software used, specifically the optimising of threshold combinations used to determine the ICRS score, the accuracy of the semi-automated method was improved.
Conclusions
- The study concluded by verifying its initial hypothesis – the semi-automated scoring system does indeed improve the consistency of ICRS scoring of chondral lesions in OCT images by reducing observer dependencies.
- However, the researchers noted that the image analysis and segmentation methods used in their study could benefit from further optimization to enhance the accuracy of semi-automated scoring.
- Also, while this research has yielded promising results for cadaveric samples, there is still a need to test this method in vivo, or on live specimens, to truly validate its effectiveness and usability in a clinical setting.
Cite This Article
APA
Te Moller NCR, Pitkänen M, Sarin JK, Väänänen S, Liukkonen J, Afara IO, Puhakka PH, Brommer H, Niemelä T, Tulamo RM, Argüelles Capilla D, Töyräs J.
(2016).
Semi-automated International Cartilage Repair Society scoring of equine articular cartilage lesions in optical coherence tomography images.
Equine Vet J, 49(4), 552-555.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12637 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Elizade University, Ondo, Nigeria.
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
- Department of Equine Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cartilage Diseases / pathology
- Cartilage Diseases / veterinary
- Cartilage, Articular / pathology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Reproducibility of Results
- Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods
- Tomography, Optical Coherence / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Castro NJ, Babakhanova G, Hu J, Athanasiou KA. Nondestructive testing of native and tissue-engineered medical products: adding numbers to pictures. Trends Biotechnol 2022 Feb;40(2):194-209.
- Sarin JK, Rieppo L, Brommer H, Afara IO, Saarakkala S, Töyräs J. Combination of optical coherence tomography and near infrared spectroscopy enhances determination of articular cartilage composition and structure. Sci Rep 2017 Sep 6;7(1):10586.
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