Computer-assisted evaluation of pulmonary emphysema in CT scans: comparison between a locally developed system and a freeware system.
OBJECTIVE
To present a locally developed system of computer vision for use with HRCT images, designated SIStema para a Detecção e a quantificação de Enfisema Pulmonar (SISDEP, System to Detect and Quantify Pulmonary Emphysema), and to compare this system with a freeware system tool.


METHODS
Thirty-three HRCT images scanned at the apex, hilum and base of the lungs of 11 patients with COPD were analyzed. The SISDEP was compared with the Osiris Medical Imaging Software Program regarding lung parenchyma segmentation, precision of the measurement of the cross-sectional area of the lungs in mm(2), mean lung density (MLD), relative area (RA) of the lung occupied by voxels with attenuation values < -950 hounsfield units (RA -950), 15th percentile point (Perc15) and visualization of hyperinflated areas using a color mask.


RESULTS
Although both computational systems were efficient in segmenting the lungs, the SISDEP performed this task automatically and more rapidly. There were significant correlations between the two systems in terms of the results obtained for lung cross-sectional area, MLD, RA -950 and Perc15 (r(2) = 0.99, 0.99, 0.99 and 1.00, respectively). The color mask tool of the SISDEP allowed excellent visualization of hyperinflated areas, discriminating them from normal areas.


CONCLUSIONS
The SISDEP was efficient in segmenting the lungs and quantifying lung hyperinflation, presenting an excellent correlation with the Osiris system. The SISDEP constitutes a promising computational tool for diagnosing and assessing the progression of emphysema in HRCT images of COPD patients.
Felix
John Hebert da Silva
JH
Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil. jhsfelix@gmail.com
Cortez
Paulo César
PC
Costa
Rodrigo Carvalho Sousa
RC
Fortaleza
Simone Castelo Branco
SC
Pereira
Eanes Delgado Barros
ED
Holanda
Marcelo Alcantara
MA
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012984:Software / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*