Two and three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography.

Following the development of the first automated methods in the 1980s, quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) has undergone substantial evolution from simplistic computer-assisted methods of visual interpretation of coronary angiograms to recently introduced three-dimensional reconstruction and quantitative analysis algorithms. The ability of QCA to provide objective dimensional assessment of coronary lesions is still useful and has led to its widespread application in both scientific research and clinical practice. Most of the systems available nowadays are based on vessel edge detection algorithms to designate the arterial lumen on conventional two-dimensional coronary angiograms. Three generations of these systems have been developed with improved accuracy and precision of obtained measurements. Techniques for reconstruction of the two-dimensional coronary angiogram in space have allowed the implementation of three-dimensional QCA. This new technology may solve many of the limitations inherent in two-dimensional QCA and provide stenosis assessment capabilities not available with two-dimensional imaging.