Automatic detection of pulmonary nodules in low-dose screening thoracic CT examinations

Martin Fiebich; Christian Wietholt; Bernhard C. Renger; Samuel G. Armato III; Kenneth R. Hoffmann; Dag Wormanns; Stefan Diederich

doi:10.1117/12.348543

21 May 1999 Automatic detection of pulmonary nodules in low-dose screening thoracic CT examinations

Martin Fiebich, Christian Wietholt, Bernhard C. Renger, Samuel G. Armato III, Kenneth R. Hoffmann, Dag Wormanns, Stefan Diederich

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3661, Medical Imaging 1999: Image Processing; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.348543
Event: Medical Imaging '99, 1999, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Computed tomography of the chest can be used as a screening method for lung cancer in a high-risk population. However, the detection of lung nodules is a difficult and time-consuming task for radiologists. The developed technique should improve the sensitivity of the detection of lung nodules without showing too many false positive nodules. In a study, which should evaluate the feasibility of screening lung cancer, about 1400 thoracic studies were acquired. Scanning parameters were 120 kVp, 5 mm collimation pitch of 2, and a reconstruction index of 5 mm. This results in a data set of about 60 to 70 images per exam. In the images the detection technique first eliminates all air outside the patient, then soft tissue and bony structures are removed. In the remaining lung fields a three-dimensional region detection is performed and rule-based analysis is used to detect possible lung nodules. This technique was applied to a small subset (n equals 17) of above studies. Computation time is about 5 min on an O2 workstation. The use of low-dose exams proved not be a hindrance in the detection of lung nodules. All of the nodules (n equals 23), except one with a size of 3 mm, were detected. The false positive rate was less than 0.3 per image. We have developed a technique, which might help the radiologist in the detection of pulmonary nodules in CT exams of the chest.

Citation Download Citation

Martin Fiebich, Christian Wietholt, Bernhard C. Renger, Samuel G. Armato III, Kenneth R. Hoffmann, Dag Wormanns, and Stefan Diederich "Automatic detection of pulmonary nodules in low-dose screening thoracic CT examinations", Proc. SPIE 3661, Medical Imaging 1999: Image Processing, (21 May 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.348543

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available