Grid-Based Software for Quantification of Diabetic Retinal Nonperfusion on Ultra-Widefield Fluorescein Angiography

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Fluorescein angiography (FA) is essential for diagnosing and managing diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other retinal vascular diseases and has recently demonstrated potential as a quantitative tool for disease staging. The advent of ultra-widefield (UWF) FA, al...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Amro Omari, Caitlyn Cooper, Eric B. Desjarlais, Maverick Cook, Maria Fernanda Abalem, Chris A. Andrews, Katherine Joltikov, Rida M. Khan, Andy Chen, Andrew DeOrio, Thomas W. Gardner, Yannis M. Paulus, K. Thiran Jayasundera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Diagnostics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/7/875
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850213166076657664
author Amro Omari
Caitlyn Cooper
Eric B. Desjarlais
Maverick Cook
Maria Fernanda Abalem
Chris A. Andrews
Katherine Joltikov
Rida M. Khan
Andy Chen
Andrew DeOrio
Thomas W. Gardner
Yannis M. Paulus
K. Thiran Jayasundera
author_facet Amro Omari
Caitlyn Cooper
Eric B. Desjarlais
Maverick Cook
Maria Fernanda Abalem
Chris A. Andrews
Katherine Joltikov
Rida M. Khan
Andy Chen
Andrew DeOrio
Thomas W. Gardner
Yannis M. Paulus
K. Thiran Jayasundera
author_sort Amro Omari
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Fluorescein angiography (FA) is essential for diagnosing and managing diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other retinal vascular diseases and has recently demonstrated potential as a quantitative tool for disease staging. The advent of ultra-widefield (UWF) FA, allowing visualization of the peripheral retina, enhances this potential. Retinal hypoperfusion is a critical risk factor for proliferative DR, yet quantifying it reliably remains a challenge. <b>Methods:</b> This study evaluates the efficacy of the Michigan grid method, a software-based grading system, in detecting retinal hypoperfusion compared to the traditional freehand method. Retinal UWF fluorescein angiograms were obtained from 50 patients, including 10 with healthy retinae and 40 with non-proliferative DR. Two independent, masked graders quantified hypoperfusion in each image using two methods: freehand annotation and a new Michigan grid method. <b>Results:</b> Using the Michigan grid method, Grader 1 identified more ungradable segments, while Grader 2 identified more perfused and nonperfused segments. Cohen’s weighted kappa indicated substantial agreement, which was slightly higher for the entire retina (0.711) compared to the central retinal area (0.686). The Michigan grid method shows comparable or slightly improved inter-rater reliability compared to the freehand method. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study demonstrates a new Michigan grid method for the evaluation of FA for hypoperfusion while highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving consistent and objective retinal nonperfusion assessment, underscoring the need for further refinement and the potential integration of automated approaches.
format Article
id doaj-art-ddc62e1bd50e4f0ea55e74aa4ba95468
institution OA Journals
issn 2075-4418
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Diagnostics
spelling doaj-art-ddc62e1bd50e4f0ea55e74aa4ba954682025-08-20T02:09:11ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-03-0115787510.3390/diagnostics15070875Grid-Based Software for Quantification of Diabetic Retinal Nonperfusion on Ultra-Widefield Fluorescein AngiographyAmro Omari0Caitlyn Cooper1Eric B. Desjarlais2Maverick Cook3Maria Fernanda Abalem4Chris A. Andrews5Katherine Joltikov6Rida M. Khan7Andy Chen8Andrew DeOrio9Thomas W. Gardner10Yannis M. Paulus11K. Thiran Jayasundera12University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USADepartment of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USAUniversity of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USAUniversity of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USADepartment of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Fluorescein angiography (FA) is essential for diagnosing and managing diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other retinal vascular diseases and has recently demonstrated potential as a quantitative tool for disease staging. The advent of ultra-widefield (UWF) FA, allowing visualization of the peripheral retina, enhances this potential. Retinal hypoperfusion is a critical risk factor for proliferative DR, yet quantifying it reliably remains a challenge. <b>Methods:</b> This study evaluates the efficacy of the Michigan grid method, a software-based grading system, in detecting retinal hypoperfusion compared to the traditional freehand method. Retinal UWF fluorescein angiograms were obtained from 50 patients, including 10 with healthy retinae and 40 with non-proliferative DR. Two independent, masked graders quantified hypoperfusion in each image using two methods: freehand annotation and a new Michigan grid method. <b>Results:</b> Using the Michigan grid method, Grader 1 identified more ungradable segments, while Grader 2 identified more perfused and nonperfused segments. Cohen’s weighted kappa indicated substantial agreement, which was slightly higher for the entire retina (0.711) compared to the central retinal area (0.686). The Michigan grid method shows comparable or slightly improved inter-rater reliability compared to the freehand method. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study demonstrates a new Michigan grid method for the evaluation of FA for hypoperfusion while highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving consistent and objective retinal nonperfusion assessment, underscoring the need for further refinement and the potential integration of automated approaches.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/7/875fluorescein angiographydiabetic retinopathyretinal hypoperfusionretinal nonperfusionultra-widefield imaging
spellingShingle Amro Omari
Caitlyn Cooper
Eric B. Desjarlais
Maverick Cook
Maria Fernanda Abalem
Chris A. Andrews
Katherine Joltikov
Rida M. Khan
Andy Chen
Andrew DeOrio
Thomas W. Gardner
Yannis M. Paulus
K. Thiran Jayasundera
Grid-Based Software for Quantification of Diabetic Retinal Nonperfusion on Ultra-Widefield Fluorescein Angiography
Diagnostics
fluorescein angiography
diabetic retinopathy
retinal hypoperfusion
retinal nonperfusion
ultra-widefield imaging
title Grid-Based Software for Quantification of Diabetic Retinal Nonperfusion on Ultra-Widefield Fluorescein Angiography
title_full Grid-Based Software for Quantification of Diabetic Retinal Nonperfusion on Ultra-Widefield Fluorescein Angiography
title_fullStr Grid-Based Software for Quantification of Diabetic Retinal Nonperfusion on Ultra-Widefield Fluorescein Angiography
title_full_unstemmed Grid-Based Software for Quantification of Diabetic Retinal Nonperfusion on Ultra-Widefield Fluorescein Angiography
title_short Grid-Based Software for Quantification of Diabetic Retinal Nonperfusion on Ultra-Widefield Fluorescein Angiography
title_sort grid based software for quantification of diabetic retinal nonperfusion on ultra widefield fluorescein angiography
topic fluorescein angiography
diabetic retinopathy
retinal hypoperfusion
retinal nonperfusion
ultra-widefield imaging
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/7/875
work_keys_str_mv AT amroomari gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT caitlyncooper gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT ericbdesjarlais gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT maverickcook gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT mariafernandaabalem gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT chrisaandrews gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT katherinejoltikov gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT ridamkhan gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT andychen gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT andrewdeorio gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT thomaswgardner gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT yannismpaulus gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography
AT kthiranjayasundera gridbasedsoftwareforquantificationofdiabeticretinalnonperfusiononultrawidefieldfluoresceinangiography