Segmentation and quantitative analysis of intrathoracic airway trees from computed tomography images

Juerg Tschirren; Eric A Hoffman; Geoffrey McLennan; Milan Sonka

doi:10.1513/pats.200507-078DS

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Segmentation and quantitative analysis of intrathoracic airway trees from computed tomography images

Journal article

Open access

Segmentation and quantitative analysis of intrathoracic airway trees from computed tomography images

Juerg Tschirren, Eric A Hoffman, Geoffrey McLennan and Milan Sonka

Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society, Vol.2(6), pp.484-487

2005

DOI: 10.1513/pats.200507-078DS

PMCID: PMC2713337

PMID: 16352753

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https://doi.org/10.1513/pats.200507-078DSView

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Abstract

The segmentation of the human airway tree from volumetric multidetector-row computed tomography images is an important prerequisite for many clinical applications and physiologic studies. We present a new airway segmentation method based on fuzzy connectivity. Small adaptive regions of interest are used that follow the airway branches as they are segmented. This method works on various types of scans (low dose and regular dose, normal subjects and diseased subjects) without the need for the user to manually adjust any parameters. Comparison with a commonly used region-growing segmentation algorithm shows that this method retrieves a significantly higher count of airway branches. In an additional processing step, this method provides accurate cross-sectional airway measurements that are conducted in the original gray-level volume. Validation on a phantom shows that subvoxel accuracy is achieved for all airway sizes and airway orientations. The utility of the reported method is demonstrated in a comparative analysis of normal and cystic fibrosis airway trees.

Reproducibility of Results

Algorithms

Humans

Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods

Lung - diagnostic imaging

Imaging, Three-Dimensional

Cystic Fibrosis - diagnostic imaging

Details

Title: Subtitle: Segmentation and quantitative analysis of intrathoracic airway trees from computed tomography images
Creators: Juerg Tschirren - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 4016 SC, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Eric A Hoffman
Geoffrey McLennan
Milan Sonka
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society, Vol.2(6), pp.484-487
DOI: 10.1513/pats.200507-078DS
PMID: 16352753
PMCID: PMC2713337
NLM abbreviation: Proc Am Thorac Soc
ISSN: 1546-3222
eISSN: 1943-5665
Publisher: United States
Grant note: HL-064368 / NHLBI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 2005
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Radiology; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Radiation Oncology; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984051983802771

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