title: Ontology-based image navigation: exploring 3.0-T MR neurography of the brachial plexus using AIM and RadLex.
abstract: Disorders of the peripheral nervous system have traditionally been evaluated using clinical history, physical examination, and electrodiagnostic testing. In selected cases, imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance (MR) neurography may help further localize or characterize abnormalities associated with peripheral neuropathies, and the clinical importance of such techniques is increasing. However, MR image interpretation with respect to peripheral nerve anatomy and disease often presents a diagnostic challenge because the relevant knowledge base remains relatively specialized. Using the radiology knowledge resource RadLex®, a series of RadLex queries, the Annotation and Image Markup standard for image annotation, and a Web services-based software architecture, the authors developed an application that allows ontology-assisted image navigation. The application provides an image browsing interface, allowing users to visually inspect the imaging appearance of anatomic structures. By interacting directly with the images, users can access additional structure-related information that is derived from RadLex (eg, muscle innervation, muscle attachment sites). These data also serve as conceptual links to navigate from one portion of the imaging atlas to another. With 3.0-T MR neurography of the brachial plexus as the initial area of interest, the resulting application provides support to radiologists in the image interpretation process by allowing efficient exploration of the MR imaging appearance of relevant nerve segments, muscles, bone structures, vascular landmarks, anatomic spaces, and entrapment sites, and the investigation of neuromuscular relationships.
authors.affiliation: From the Imaging Service, Baltimore VA Medical Center, 10 N Greene St, Room C1-24, Baltimore, MD 21201 (K.C.W., E.L.S.); Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (K.C.W., P.P.L.); Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Md (A.R.S.); Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (J.J.M., E.L.S.); Departments of Biological Structure (J.L.V.M., L.T.D., J.F.B.) and Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education (L.T.D., J.F.B.), University of Washington, Seattle, Wash; Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif (D.L.R.); and Department of Radiology and Imaging, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY (J.A.C.).
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Aditya R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Salunkhe
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Pearlene P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: José L V
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mejino
authors.forename: Landon T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Detwiler
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Brinkley
authors.forename: Eliot L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carrino
mesh_terms: D001271:Atlases as Topic; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software