CaroTo: A Tool for Fast Comprehensive Analysis of Carotid Artery Stenosis in 4D PC- and 3D BB-MRI Data

A research team from institutions including Fraunhofer MEVIS and University Medical Center Freiburg has developed CaroTo, a specialized software tool designed to standardize and accelerate the analysis of carotid artery stenosis from complex MRI data. The tool addresses the critical need for consistent assessment of atherosclerosis, which increases stroke risk, by combining the established MEVISFlow platform with new, carotid-specific modules for geometry and vessel wall evaluation. CaroTo supports both manual and fully automatic segmentation across 2D, 2D+time, and 3D image types, including 4D phase-contrast (PC) and 3D black-blood (BB) MRI sequences. This multimodal approach facilitates the reproducible extraction of key biomarkers and clear visualization of results, moving beyond subjective interpretation toward quantitative, standardized evaluation.

CaroTo's development represents a significant step in medical imaging analysis, specifically targeting the carotid artery's intricate geometry and plaque characteristics. By providing a unified workflow for segmentation, biomarker calculation, and visualization, the tool aims to reduce inter-observer variability and improve diagnostic consistency in clinical and research settings. The work, presented at VCBM 2024 where it received a Poster Honorable Mention, highlights the growing role of specialized computational tools in translating complex, high-dimensional medical imaging data into actionable clinical insights for stroke prevention.