Measurement of Coronary Artery Diameter with Color Doppler Mapping and Comparison with Quantitative Coronary Angiography

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Accurate assessment of coronary artery diameters is essential for diagnosing significant stenosis and planning interventional procedures. Traditional quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) has been the gold standard for measuring vessel diameter, yet color Doppler mapping (CDM) techniques have emerged as an alternative non-invasive or less invasive modality for vessel diameter quantification. Methods: This prospective, observational study included patients (n = 120) undergoing coronary artery evaluation. Each participant underwent both CDM and QCA for the assessment of coronary artery diameter in the proximal, mid, and distal segments of major coronary arteries. Data were collected regarding vessel diameters, degree of stenosis, and correlation between the two methods. Statistical analysis involved Pearson correlation tests and Bland-Altman plots to compare agreement. Results: Strong correlations (r = 0.88–0.93) were observed between CDM and QCA measurements across all segments of the major coronary arteries. In the proximal segments, mean diameter measured by QCA was 3.42 ± 0.45 mm, compared to 3.36 ± 0.47 mm by CDM. The difference in mid and distal segments followed a similar trend. Bland-Altman analyses demonstrated a mean difference of 0.05 mm (95% CI: –0.11 to 0.21 mm). Interobserver and intraobserver variability for CDM were both low (<5%), suggesting high reproducibility. These findings indicate that CDM provides clinically reliable vessel diameter measurements closely matching QCA. Conclusion: Color Doppler mapping holds promise as a feasible, accurate alternative to QCA for coronary artery diameter measurement. The strong correlation between both methods suggests the potential utility of CDM in routine clinical practice, offering a less invasive tool for monitoring CAD progression and guiding therapeutic strategies.