We plan to develop and clinically evaluate software tools for rapid and reproducible measurement of tumor-related volumes visible in 3D medical image data. The goal is to provide better accuracy and reproducibility than existing manual and semimanual methods of measurement, and to do so without penalty of increased user interaction time. Improved accuracy would mean that change in disease status could be measured more sensitively, thereby, enabling shorter delays between therapy and follow up examinations. Thus, the tools could enable more responsive management of therapy. This approach will employ intensity (including multiparameter MRI intensity), texture, connectivity and morphologic criteria in defining tumor margins. The problem is made tractable by selection of a relatively small volume, the tumor, which the user specifies by depositing a "seed" using a graphics cursor. In the Phase I research, the ability to accurately place contours in 2D slice images will be tested. Algorithms will be optimized for agreement of computer generated contours with contours traced by experts. The extension of the technique to three dimensions is planned for Phase II.Commercial ApplicationsThe research seeks to develop efficient and accurate software tools for computer assisted measurement of tumor related volumes in 3D image data. The tools may also be applicable to measurement of other structures. They will allow more responsive cancer therapy, and can be used wherever digital image data are available.National Cancer Institute (NCI)
