title: Radiomics-based differentiation of lung disease models generated by polluted air based on X-ray computed tomography data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung diseases (resulting from air pollution) require a widely accessible method for risk estimation and early diagnosis to ensure proper and responsive treatment. Radiomics-based fractal dimension analysis of X-ray computed tomography attenuation patterns in chest voxels of mice exposed to different air polluting agents was performed to model early stages of disease and establish differential diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  To model different types of air pollution, BALBc/ByJ mouse groups were exposed to cigarette smoke combined with ozone, sulphur dioxide gas and a control group was established. Two weeks after exposure, the frequency distributions of image voxel attenuation data were evaluated. Specific cut-off ranges were defined to group voxels by attenuation. Cut-off ranges were binarized and their spatial pattern was associated with calculated fractal dimension, then abstracted by the fractal dimension -- cut-off range mathematical function. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis (KW) and Mann-Whitney post hoc (MWph) tests were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each cut-off range versus fractal dimension function plot was found to contain two distinctive Gaussian curves. The ratios of the Gaussian curve parameters are considerably significant and are statistically distinguishable within the three exposure groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A new radiomics evaluation method was established based on analysis of the fractal dimension of chest X-ray computed tomography data segments. The specific attenuation patterns calculated utilizing our method may diagnose and monitor certain lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, tuberculosis or lung carcinomas.
authors: Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó utca 37-47, Budapest, H-1094, Hungary. szigeti.krisztian@med.semmelweis-univ.hu.
authors: Krisztián
authors: K
authors: Szigeti
authors: CROmed Translational Research Centers Ltd., Baross utca 91-95, Budapest, H-1047, Hungary.
authors: Tibor
authors: T
authors: Szabó
authors: Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 78/A, Budapest, H-1082, Hungary. korom.csaba@med.semmelweis-univ.hu.
authors: Csaba
authors: C
authors: Korom
authors: CROmed Translational Research Centers Ltd., Baross utca 91-95, Budapest, H-1047, Hungary. ilona.czibak@cromedresearch.com.
authors: Ilona
authors: I
authors: Czibak
authors: Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó utca 37-47, Budapest, H-1094, Hungary. horvath.ildiko@med.semmelweis-univ.hu.
authors: Ildikó
authors: I
authors: Horváth
authors: Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó utca 37-47, Budapest, H-1094, Hungary. veres.daniel@med.semmelweis-univ.hu.
authors: Dániel S
authors: DS
authors: Veres
authors: Department of Public Health Medicine, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary. zoltan.gyongyi@aok.pte.hu.
authors: Zoltán
authors: Z
authors: Gyöngyi
authors: Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 78/A, Budapest, H-1082, Hungary. karlking@radi.sote.hu.
authors: Kinga
authors: K
authors: Karlinger
authors: Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, D-01314, Germany. r.bergmann@hzdr.de.
authors: Ralf
authors: R
authors: Bergmann
authors: CROmed Translational Research Centers Ltd., Baross utca 91-95, Budapest, H-1047, Hungary. marta.pocsik@cromedresearch.com.
authors: Márta
authors: M
authors: Pócsik
authors: Department of Public Health Medicine, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary. ferenc.budan@cromedresearch.com.|MedProDevelop Kft, Irgalmasok utcája 16, Pécs, H-7621, Hungary. ferenc.budan@cromedresearch.com.
authors: Ferenc
authors: F
authors: Budán
authors: Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó utca 37-47, Budapest, H-1094, Hungary. domokos.mathe@cromedresearch.com.|CROmed Translational Research Centers Ltd., Baross utca 91-95, Budapest, H-1047, Hungary. domokos.mathe@cromedresearch.com.
authors: Domokos
authors: D
authors: Máthé
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D017709:Fractals; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016011:Normal Distribution; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants