title: Three-dimensional path planning for virtual bronchoscopy.
abstract: Multidetector computed-tomography (MDCT) scanners provide large high-resolution three-dimensional (3-D) images of the chest. MDCT scanning, when used in tandem with bronchoscopy, provides a state-of-the-art approach for lung-cancer assessment. We have been building and validating a lung-cancer assessment system, which enables virtual-bronchoscopic 3-D MDCT image analysis and follow-on image-guided bronchoscopy. A suitable path planning method is needed, however, for using this system. We describe a rapid, robust method for computing a set of 3-D airway-tree paths from MDCT images. The method first defines the skeleton of a given segmented 3-D chest image and then performs a multistage refinement of the skeleton to arrive at a final tree structure. The tree consists of a series of paths and branch structural data, suitable for quantitative airway analysis and smooth virtual navigation. A comparison of the method to a previously devised path-planning approach, using a set of human MDCT images, illustrates the efficacy of the method. Results are also presented for human lung-cancer assessment and the guidance of bronchoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Siemens Corporate Research, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kiraly
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Helferty
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McLennan
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001995:Bronchography / Q000379:methods*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface