[Insight-users] Measuring tumor diameter

[Celina Imielinska]

Andriy,

   I agree with you completely that there is a better way to assess tumor 
size using computer to derive diameter of a tumor at the cross-section 
with the largest diameter. Better that doing it by hand.

    Even more useful would be to define 3D shape representation that would 
allow parametrization and easier comparison between two 3D shapes when 
tumor progresses - I was looking at the problem in the past, because it 
was a beautiful geometric challenge, and potentially useful...

   When I found out that companies that do imaging services for clinical 
trials, will unlikely be interested in a more sophisticated tool that 
looking manually at 2D slices when assessin tumor diameter - I understood 
that it will be very difficult to change culture, modify training - and I 
abandoned this problem.

   Yet, the problem is open and interesting - and potentially may provide a 
smart tool,

   good luck,

     Celina


On Sun, 21 Dec 2008, Andriy Fedorov wrote:

> Celina,
>
> I agree with you on some of the points you make.
>
> You are correct, doctors assess the size of tumors by looking at 2d
> slices. However, when doctors look at the same tumor, they often come
> to different conclusions when it comes to its quantification. E.g.,
> see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9621968.
>
> In my opinion, if the tumor diameter definition is well-defined, and
> the tumor boundary is outlined, computer is more suited to complete
> the tedious work of going through all possible combinations, and
> precisely quantifying the diameter at a tumor slice.
>
> Andriy Fedorov
>
>