Wavelet Denoising of First-Pass Perfusion: Impact on Visual Assessment.

Pedro Ferreira¹, Peter Gatehouse², Tevfik Ismail², Ankur Gulati², David Firmin²

In this work two experienced observers evaluate in a blind score, the impact in diagnostic confidence of wavelet denoising, in a visual assessment of first-pass myocardial perfusion in a cohort of hypertrophied cardiomyopathy patients. Initial results show that wavelet denoising seems to be detrimental for diagnostic confidence. Both observers criticized the increase in blur resulting from the denoising process, with one observer scoring a lower diagnostic confidence for the denoised data (p < 0.05).