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Estimation of the tissue composition of the tumour mass in neuroblastoma using segmented CT images

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Abstract

Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial, solid, malignant tumour in children. Advances in radiology have made possible the detection and staging of the disease. Nevertheless, there is no method available at present that can go beyond detection and qualitative analysis, towards quantitative assessment of the tissues composition of the primary tumour mass in neuroblastoma. Such quantitative analysis could provide important information and serve as a decision-support tool to the radiologist and the oncologist, result in better treatment and follow-up and even lead to the avoidance of delayed surgery. The problem investigated was the improvement of the analysis of the primary tumour mass, in patients with neuroblastoma, using X-ray computed tomography (CT) images. A methodology was proposed for the estimation of the tissue content of the mass: it comprised a Gaussian mixture model for estimation, from segmented CT images, of the tissue composition of the primary tumour. To demonstrate the potential of the method, the results are presented of its application to ten CT examinations of four patients. The method provides quantitative information, and it was observed that the tumour in one of the patients reduced from 523 cm3 to 81 cm3 in volume, with an increase in calcification from about 20% to about 88% of the tumour volume, in response to chemotherapy over a period of five months. Results indicate that the proposed technique may be of considerable value in assessing the response to therapy of patients with neuroblastoma.

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Author notes

  1. F. J. Ayres

    Present address: Laboratory of Image, Vision & Spatial Structures, SENAC College of Computer Science & Technology, São Paulo, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    F. J. Ayres &  R. M. Rangayyan

  2. Departmento de Engenharia Elétrica, Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    F. J. Ayres, M. K. Zuffo &  R. M. Rangayyan

  3. Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    R. M. Rangayyan

  4. Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    G. S. Boag

  5. Hospital das Clínicas, Instituto da Criança, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    V. O. Filho & M. Valente

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  1. F. J. Ayres
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  2. M. K. Zuffo
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  3. R. M. Rangayyan
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Correspondence to R. M. Rangayyan.

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Ayres, F.J., Zuffo, M.K., Rangayyan, R.M. et al. Estimation of the tissue composition of the tumour mass in neuroblastoma using segmented CT images. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 42, 366–377 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02344713

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