Toward reliable multigenerational analysis of anatomical trees in 3D high-resolution CT images

Kun-Chang Yu; Erik Leo Ritman M.D.; Atilla Peter Kiraly; Shu-Yen Wan; Mair Zamir; William E. Higgins

doi:10.1117/12.480299

2 May 2003 Toward reliable multigenerational analysis of anatomical trees in 3D high-resolution CT images

Kun-Chang Yu, Erik Leo Ritman M.D., Atilla Peter Kiraly, Shu-Yen Wan, Mair Zamir, William E. Higgins

Proceedings Volume 5031, Medical Imaging 2003: Physiology and Function: Methods, Systems, and Applications; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.480299
Event: Medical Imaging 2003, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Modern micro-CT and multidetector helical CT scanners can produce high-resolution 3D digital images of various anatomical tree structures, such as the coronary or hepatic vasculature and the airway tree. The sheer size and complexity of these trees make it essentially impossible to define them interactively. Automatic approaches, using techniques such as image segmentation, thinning, and centerline definition, have been proposed for a few specific problems. None of these approaches, however, can guarantee extracting geometrically accurate multigenerational tree structures. This limits their utility for detailed quantitative analysis of a tree. This paper proposes an approach for accurately defining 3D trees depicted in large 3D CT images. Our approach utilizes a three-stage analysis paradigm: (1) Apply an automated technique to make a "first cut" at defining the tree. (2) Analyze the automatically defined tree to identify possible errors. (3) Use a series of interactive tools to examine and correct each of the identified errors. At the end of this analysis, in principle, a more useful tree will be defined. Our paper will present a preliminary description of this paradigm and give some early results with 3D micro-CT images.

Citation Download Citation

Kun-Chang Yu, Erik Leo Ritman M.D., Atilla Peter Kiraly, Shu-Yen Wan, Mair Zamir, and William E. Higgins "Toward reliable multigenerational analysis of anatomical trees in 3D high-resolution CT images", Proc. SPIE 5031, Medical Imaging 2003: Physiology and Function: Methods, Systems, and Applications, (2 May 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.480299

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