Volumetric CT-based segmentation of NSCLC using 3D-Slicer

Sci Rep. 2013 Dec 18:3:3529. doi: 10.1038/srep03529.

Abstract

Accurate volumetric assessment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is critical for adequately informing treatments. In this study we assessed the clinical relevance of a semiautomatic computed tomography (CT)-based segmentation method using the competitive region-growing based algorithm, implemented in the free and public available 3D-Slicer software platform. We compared the 3D-Slicer segmented volumes by three independent observers, who segmented the primary tumour of 20 NSCLC patients twice, to manual slice-by-slice delineations of five physicians. Furthermore, we compared all tumour contours to the macroscopic diameter of the tumour in pathology, considered as the "gold standard". The 3D-Slicer segmented volumes demonstrated high agreement (overlap fractions > 0.90), lower volume variability (p = 0.0003) and smaller uncertainty areas (p = 0.0002), compared to manual slice-by-slice delineations. Furthermore, 3D-Slicer segmentations showed a strong correlation to pathology (r = 0.89, 95%CI, 0.81-0.94). Our results show that semiautomatic 3D-Slicer segmentations can be used for accurate contouring and are more stable than manual delineations. Therefore, 3D-Slicer can be employed as a starting point for treatment decisions or for high-throughput data mining research, such as Radiomics, where manual delineating often represent a time-consuming bottleneck.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / diagnosis*
  • Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / methods*
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated / methods
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Software

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor