Comparative performance analysis for computer-aided lung nodule detection and segmentation on ultra-low-dose vs. standard dose CT

Rafael Wiemker; Patrik Rogalla; Roland Opfer; Ahmet Ekin; Valentina Romano; Thomas Bülow

doi:10.1117/12.649790

17 March 2006 Comparative performance analysis for computer aided lung nodule detection and segmentation on ultra-low-dose vs. standard-dose CT

Rafael Wiemker, Patrik Rogalla, Roland Opfer, Ahmet Ekin, Valentina Romano, Thomas Bülow

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6146, Medical Imaging 2006: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment; 614605 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.649790
Event: Medical Imaging, 2006, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The performance of computer aided lung nodule detection (CAD) and computer aided nodule volumetry is compared between standard-dose (70-100 mAs) and ultra-low-dose CT images (5-10 mAs). A direct quantitative performance comparison was possible, since for each patient both an ultra-low-dose and a standard-dose CT scan were acquired within the same examination session. The data sets were recorded with a multi-slice CT scanner at the Charite university hospital Berlin with 1 mm slice thickness. Our computer aided nodule detection and segmentation algorithms were deployed on both ultra-low-dose and standard-dose CT data without any dose-specific fine-tuning or preprocessing. As a reference standard 292 nodules from 20 patients were visually identified, each nodule both in ultra-low-dose and standard-dose data sets. The CAD performance was analyzed by virtue of multiple FROC curves for different lower thresholds of the nodule diameter. For nodules with a volume-equivalent diameter equal or larger than 4 mm (149 nodules pairs), we observed a detection rate of 88% at a median false positive rate of 2 per patient in standard-dose images, and 86% detection rate in ultra-low-dose images, also at 2 FPs per patient. Including even smaller nodules equal or larger than 2 mm (272 nodules pairs), we observed a detection rate of 86% in standard-dose images, and 84% detection rate in ultra-low-dose images, both at a rate of 5 FPs per patient. Moreover, we observed a correlation of 94% between the volume-equivalent nodule diameter as automatically measured on ultra-low-dose versus on standard-dose images, indicating that ultra-low-dose CT is also feasible for growth-rate assessment in follow-up examinations. The comparable performance of lung nodule CAD in ultra-low-dose and standard-dose images is of particular interest with respect to lung cancer screening of asymptomatic patients.

Citation Download Citation

Rafael Wiemker, Patrik Rogalla, Roland Opfer, Ahmet Ekin, Valentina Romano, and Thomas Bülow "Comparative performance analysis for computer aided lung nodule detection and segmentation on ultra-low-dose vs. standard-dose CT", Proc. SPIE 6146, Medical Imaging 2006: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment, 614605 (17 March 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.649790

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