Automated lung segmentation in X-ray computed tomography: Development and evaluation of a heuristic threshold-based scheme
Automated lung segmentation in X-ray computed tomography: Development and evaluation of a heuristic threshold-based scheme
复制标题
DOI：
10.1016/s1076-6332(03)00380-5
复制
发表时间：
2003-11-01
影响因子：
4.8
通讯作者：
Gur, D
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Leader, JK;Zheng, B;Gur, D
理论基础和目标。开发和评估一种可靠的、全自动的肺分割方案，以应用于X射线计算机断层扫描。该自动化方案是使用基于切片的像素值阈值和两组分类规则来启发式地开发的。规则中使用的特征包括大小、圆度和位置。该方法逐层进行分割，并进行三个关键操作：(1)图像预处理以去除背景像素；(2)计算和应用像素值阈值来识别肺组织；(3)细化初始分割区域以修剪错误检测到的呼吸道并分离融合的右肺和左肺。使用101例计算机断层扫描(91次厚层扫描，10次薄层扫描)对自动分割方案的性能进行了评估。91例肥厚病例分别来自50例患者的手术前后，且不是独立的。在2969张厚切片图像中，94.0%的图像被自动分割，在1161张薄切片图像中，97.6%的图像被自动分割。按自动方案计算的总肺容量与功能残气量加60%吸气量的平均差值为-24.7+/-508.1毫升。对于厚层和薄层病例，自动方案和已建立的常用半自动方案计算的总肺体积的平均差值分别为95.2+/-52.5毫升和-27.7+/-66.9毫升。这种简单的、全自动的肺分割方案提供了一种客观的工具，便于从计算机断层扫描中分割肺。
Rationale and Objectives. To develop and evaluate a reliable, fully-automated lung segmentation scheme for application in X-ray computed tomography.Materials and Methods. The automated scheme was heuristically developed using a slice-based, pixel-value threshold and two sets of classification rules. Features used in the rules include size, circularity, and location. The segmentation scheme operates slice-by-slice and performs three key operations: (1) image preprocessing to remove background pixels, (2) computation and application of a pixel-value threshold to identify lung tissue, and (3) refinement of the initial segmented regions to prune incorrectly detected airways and separate fused right and left lungs.Results. The performance of the automated segmentation scheme was evaluated using 101 computed tomography cases (91 thick slice, 10 thin slice scans). The 91 thick cases were pre- and post-surgery from 50 patients and were not independent. The automated scheme successfully segmented 94.0% of the 2,969 thick slice images and 97.6% of the 1,161 thin slice images. The mean difference of the total lung volumes calculated by the automated scheme and functional residual capacity plus 60% inspiratory capacity was -24.7 +/- 508.1 mL. The mean differences of the total lung volumes calculated by the automated scheme and an established, commonly used semi-automated scheme were 95.2 +/- 52.5 mL and -27.7 +/- 66.9 mL for the thick and thin slice cases, respectively.Conclusion. This simple, fully-automated lung segmentation scheme provides an objective tool to facilitate lung segmentation from computed tomography scans.