An open source software for analysis of dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance images: UMMPerfusion revisited.

Frank G Zöllner,Gerald Weisser,Markus Daab,Steven P Sourbron,Stefan O Schoenberg,Lothar R Schad

doi:10.1186/s12880-016-0109-0

Abstract

BackgroundPerfusion imaging has become an important image based tool to derive the physiological information in various applications, like tumor diagnostics and therapy, stroke, (cardio-) vascular diseases, or functional assessment of organs. However, even after 20 years of intense research in this field, perfusion imaging still remains a research tool without a broad clinical usage. One problem is the lack of standardization in technical aspects which have to be considered for successful quantitative evaluation; the second problem is a lack of tools that allow a direct integration into the diagnostic workflow in radiology.ResultsFive compartment models, namely, a one compartment model (1CP), a two compartment exchange (2CXM), a two compartment uptake model (2CUM), a two compartment filtration model (2FM) and eventually the extended Toft’s model (ETM) were implemented as plugin for the DICOM workstation OsiriX. Moreover, the plugin has a clean graphical user interface and provides means for quality management during the perfusion data analysis. Based on reference test data, the implementation was validated against a reference implementation. No differences were found in the calculated parameters.ConclusionWe developed open source software to analyse DCE-MRI perfusion data. The software is designed as plugin for the DICOM Workstation OsiriX. It features a clean GUI and provides a simple workflow for data analysis while it could also be seen as a toolbox providing an implementation of several recent compartment models to be applied in research tasks. Integration into the infrastructure of a radiology department is given via OsiriX. Results can be saved automatically and reports generated automatically during data analysis ensure certain quality control.

Highlights

Perfusion imaging has become an important image based tool to derive the physiological information in various applications, like tumor diagnostics and therapy, stroke, vascular diseases, or functional assessment of organs [1, 2]
One problem is the lack of standardization in technical aspects which have to be considered for successful quantitative evaluation, including sequence and contrast agent dose optimization [16] model selection [17], correct selection of the arterial input function [18, 19], or correction of motion artifacts [20, 21]
In the initial version of our software, we provided means for quality assurance by visualizing the arterial input function (AIF) online while drawing its respective region of interest and by generating automatically a report logging all settings of the respective data analysis session

Summary

Results

A one compartment model (1CP), a two compartment exchange (2CXM), a two compartment uptake model (2CUM), a two compartment filtration model (2FM) and eventually the extended Toft’s model (ETM) were implemented as plugin for the DICOM workstation OsiriX. The plugin has a clean graphical user interface and provides means for quality management during the perfusion data analysis. Based on reference test data, the implementation was validated against a reference implementation. No differences were found in the calculated parameters

Conclusion

Background

Results and discussion

Conclusions