Computer Assisted Quantitation of Tumor Related Volumes

We plan to develop and clinically evaluate software tools for rapid and reproducible measurementof tumor-related volumes visible in 3-D medical image data. The goal is to provide better accuracy andreproducibility than existing manual and semi-manual methods of measurement, and to do so withoutpenalty of increased user interaction time. Improved accuracy would mean that change in disease statuscould be measured more sensitively, thereby, enabling shorter delays between therapy and follow upexaminations. Thus, the tools could enable more responsive management of therapy. This approachwill employ intensity (including multiparameter MRI intensity), texture, connectivity and morphologiccriteria in defining tumor margins. The problem is made tractable by selection of a relatively smallvolume, the tumor, which the user specifies by depositing a "seed" using a graphics cursor. In thePhase I research, the ability to accurately place contours in 2-D slice images will be tested. Algorithmswill be optimized for agreement of computer generated contours with contours traced by experts. Theextension of the technique to three dimensions is planned for Phase II.