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Automatic recognition of major fissures in human lungs

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International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The major hurdle for three-dimensional display of lung lobes is the automatic recognition of lobar fissures, boundaries of lung lobes. Lobar fissures are difficult to recognize due to their variable shape and appearance, along with the low contrast and high noise inherent in computed tomographic (CT) images. An algorithm for recognizing the major fissures in human lungs was developed and tested.

Methods

The algorithm employs texture analysis and fissure appearance to mimic the way that surgeons/radiologists read CT images in clinical settings. The algorithm uses 3 stages to automatically find the major fissures in human lungs: (a) texture analysis, (b) fissure region analysis, and (c) fissure identification.

Results

The algorithm’s feasibility was evaluated using isotropic CT images from 16 anonymous patients with varying pathologies. Compared with manual segmentation, the algorithm yielded mean distances of 1.92 ± 2.07 and 2.07 ± 2.37 mm, for recognizing the left and right major fissures, respectively.

Conclusions

An automatic recognition algorithm for major fissures in human lungs is feasible, providing a foundation for the future development of a complete segmentation algorithm for lung lobes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Qiao Wei & Yaoping Hu

  2. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Diagnostic Imaging, Foothills Medical Center, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada

    John H. MacGregor

  3. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgical Services, Foothills Medical Center, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada

    Gary Gelfand

Authors
  1. Qiao Wei
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  2. Yaoping Hu
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  3. John H. MacGregor
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  4. Gary Gelfand
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yaoping Hu.

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Wei, Q., Hu, Y., MacGregor, J.H. et al. Automatic recognition of major fissures in human lungs. Int J CARS 7, 111–123 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-011-0632-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-011-0632-y

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