title: Segmentation of the central-chest lymph nodes in 3D MDCT images.
abstract: Central-chest lymph nodes play a vital role in lung-cancer staging. The definition of lymph nodes from three-dimensional (3D) multidetector computed-tomography (MDCT) images, however, remains an open problem. We propose two methods for computer-based segmentation of the central-chest lymph nodes from a 3D MDCT scan: the single-section live wire and the single-click live wire. For the single-section live wire, the user first applies the standard live wire to a single two-dimensional (2D) section after which automated analysis completes the segmentation process. The single-click live wire is similar but is almost completely automatic. Ground-truth studies involving human 3D MDCT scans demonstrate the robustness, efficiency, and intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility of the methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Kongkuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology*