Standard Database for CT Lung Images

本研究计划的长远目标是建立一个公开可用的螺旋计算机断层扫描（CT）肺部图像标准数据库。这个肺图像数据库将成为计算机辅助诊断（CAD）技术发展的重要资源，旨在帮助放射科医生在CT扫描中识别肺癌。对标准肺图像数据库的需求是基于两个最近的发展。首先是多层CT扫描仪的进步，它在每次龙门旋转时获取多个解剖切片的图像。因此，这些扫描仪可能产生大量的图像数据。第二个发展是美国公众和临床医生越来越意识到使用低剂量螺旋CT方案进行肺癌筛查的潜在益处。预计这些发展将大大增加放射科医生的负担。此外，从软拷贝显示进行初级判读将成为实际需要。从这种情况中出现的是对自动图像处理方法的需求，该方法可以为放射科医生提供有关CT图像数据中可疑异常的定量信息。然后，放射科医生将这些信息纳入他们的诊断决策过程，期望癌症检测的灵敏度可以提高，同时减少观察者的可变性和解释时间。建立一个标准的肺图像数据库对影像学研究的努力至关重要。本建议涉及与建立这样一个数据库有关的重要临床和技术问题。拟议研究的具体目的是：(1)确定临床需求,必须对一个标准的肺CT图像数据库,(2)解决技术问题和标准参与情况下选择肺CT图像数据库,(3)收集病例的肺CT图像数据库作为肺图像数据库联盟的一员,(4)开发图像处理和CAD方法的评估策略使用CT肺图像数据库,和(5)调查图像重建的影响,多模态图像配准，利用CT肺图像数据库对不同时间采集的图像进行配准。作为该联盟的一员，我们将展示必要的灵活性，以便就创建数据库达成共识，该数据库将作为成像研究的标准资源。本建议中所提出的想法预期将促使该联盟为实现这一目标而作出努力。

The broad, long-term objective of this research proposal is to create a publicly available standard database of spiral computed tomography (CT) lung images. This lung image database will become an essential resource for the development of computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) techniques designed to help radiologists identify lung cancer in CT scans. The need for a standard lung image database is based on two recent developments. The first is the advancement of multi-slice CT scanners, which acquire images of multiple anatomic sections during each gantry rotation. Consequently, these scanners may generate an extensive amount of image data. The second development is the growing awareness among the American public and clinicians of the potential benefits of lung cancer screening using a low-dose spiral CT protocol. These developments are expected to dramatically increase the burden on radiologists. Moreover, primary interpretation from softcopy display will become a practical necessity. What emerges from this scenario is a requirement for automated image processing methods that provide radiologists with quantitative information about suspicious abnormalities in the CT image data. Radiologists will then incorporate this information into their diagnostic decision-making process, with the expectation that cancer-detection sensitivity may be improved while decreasing both observer variability and interpretation time. Creation of a standard lung image database is critical to the endeavor of imaging research. This proposal addresses the important clinical and technical issues relevant to the creation of such a database. The specific aims of the proposed research are: (1) to identify the clinical requirements that must be imposed on a standard CT lung image database, (2) to address the technical issues and criteria involved with case selection for the CT lung image database, (3) to collect cases for the CT lung image database as a member of the Lung Image Database Consortium, (4) to develop strategies for the assessment of image processing and CAD methods using the CT lung image database, and (5) to investigate the effect of image reconstruction, multi-modality image registration, and registration of images acquired at different times on the utility of the CT lung image database. As a member of the Consortium, we would demonstrate the flexibility necessary to reach consensus on the creation of a database that will serve as a standard resource for imaging research. The ideas resented in this proposal are expected to stimulate the efforts of the Consortium toward that goal.