Semi-automatic central-chest lymph-node definition from 3D MDCT images

Kongkuo Lu; William E. Higgins

doi:10.1117/12.839515

9 March 2010 Semi-automatic central-chest lymph-node definition from 3D MDCT images

Kongkuo Lu, William E. Higgins

Proceedings Volume 7624, Medical Imaging 2010: Computer-Aided Diagnosis; 76240T (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.839515
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Central-chest lymph nodes play a vital role in lung-cancer staging. The three-dimensional (3D) definition of lymph nodes from multidetector computed-tomography (MDCT) images, however, remains an open problem. This is because of the limitations in the MDCT imaging of soft-tissue structures and the complicated phenomena that influence the appearance of a lymph node in an MDCT image. In the past, we have made significant efforts toward developing (1) live-wire-based segmentation methods for defining 2D and 3D chest structures and (2) a computer-based system for automatic definition and interactive visualization of the Mountain central-chest lymph-node stations. Based on these works, we propose new single-click and single-section live-wire methods for segmenting central-chest lymph nodes. The single-click live wire only requires the user to select an object pixel on one 2D MDCT section and is designed for typical lymph nodes. The single-section live wire requires the user to process one selected 2D section using standard 2D live wire, but it is more robust. We applied these methods to the segmentation of 20 lymph nodes from two human MDCT chest scans (10 per scan) drawn from our ground-truth database. The single-click live wire segmented 75% of the selected nodes successfully and reproducibly, while the success rate for the single-section live wire was 85%. We are able to segment the remaining nodes, using our previously derived (but more interaction intense) 2D live-wire method incorporated in our lymph-node analysis system. Both proposed methods are reliable and applicable to a wide range of pulmonary lymph nodes.

Citation Download Citation

Kongkuo Lu and William E. Higgins "Semi-automatic central-chest lymph-node definition from 3D MDCT images", Proc. SPIE 7624, Medical Imaging 2010: Computer-Aided Diagnosis, 76240T (9 March 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.839515

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