Methods and systems for generating a lung report

Abstract

Software, methods and user interfaces for viewing and generating a lung report. In exemplary methods, a first baseline image is analyzed to localize lung nodules. The lung nodule information can be stored and used to relocate the previously localized lung nodules in a second, follow-up imaging scan. The follow-up scan can be analyzed—either manually or automatically—to generate statistics for the lung nodules localized in the follow-up scan. Information derived from the baseline scan can be used to ease the localization of the lung nodules in the follow-up scan. In some exemplary methods, both the baseline scan and follow-up scan are displayed and the nodules are selected for comparison. Typically, the graphical user interface can display a third, composite image that displays the change of size of the nodules.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed herewith and entitled “Customizable Lung Report Generator” (Attorney Docket No. 021106-000320US) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Systems and Graphical User Interface for Analyzing Body Images,” (Attorney Docket No. 021106-000310US) each of which is incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to systems, methods, software, and graphical user interfaces for displaying and analyzing body images and for generating organ reports. More particularly, the present invention relates to graphical user interfaces and systems for analyzing one or more thoracic CT datasets to track and analyze lung nodules and other lung parameters. [0003] Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among both men and women. Advances in medical imaging, such as CT...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method and software for analyzing and comparing thoracic images of a baseline scan with follow-up scans to detect and locate potential nodules in the lungs. The method allows the operator to display and analyze the images side by side, and to determine if the nodules are benign or malignant, or if they have increased in size. The software code includes an alignment algorithm to automatically align the images, a comparison algorithm to produce a composite image, and a decision tree to generate a report with recommendations for patient follow-up care and studies. The invention improves the visualization and analysis of nodules in the lungs, and helps to detect and locate potential malignant nodules.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, such large amounts of data for each patient increases the probability that the radiologist will miss a potential nodule in their analysis of the image dataset, i.e., a “false negative.” Tumors may be too small to be reliably detected, or their appearance may be obscured by the surrounding tissues such as vessels.

In their early stages of development, malignant lung tumors may not be detected even upon careful inspection of the image dataset.

It is generally believed that early detection of cancer is beneficial, but in the case of lung cancer this is not established because of the recentness of the technique.

Conventional imaging systems and methods do not provide an efficient way to determine if the nodules have increased in size, stayed the same, or the like.

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