Value Of Image Fusion Research Articles

The impact of 18F-FDOPA-PET/MRI image fusion in detecting liver metastasis in patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract

BackgroundThis study assesses the value of image fusion using 18F-fluoro-L-DOPA (18F-DOPA) positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for examining patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and a suspicion of metastasis of the liver.MethodsEleven patients (five women and six men aged between 20 and 81, with a mean age of 54.6 years) were included in the study. All patients underwent whole-body 18F-DOPA PET examinations and contrast-enhanced MRI with diffusion-weighted sequences (DWS). Image fusion was performed using a semiautomatic voxel-based algorithm. Images obtained using PET and MRI were assessed separately. Side-by-side evaluations of fused PET/MRI images were also performed.ResultsIn total, 55 liver lesions (52 liver metastases and 3 benign lesions) were detected in the 11 patients. Sensitivity detection for liver lesions was higher when using PET/CT than when using contrast-enhanced MRI without DWSs and lower than using MRI with DWSs. The sensitivity of PET/MRI image fusion in the detection of liver metastasis was significantly higher than that of MRI with DWSs (P < 0.05).ConclusionImages of the liver obtained using PET and MRI in patients with NETs exhibited characteristic features. These findings suggest that an appropriate combination of available imaging modalities can optimize patient evaluations.

TCT-279 The value of image fusion in coronary angiography for the detection of coronary artery bypass grafts

Coronary angiography are more complex in patients with coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG). These procedures are longer leading to more X-ray exposure, compared to conventional coronary angiography. Image fusion is a new technology allowing a fusion in real-time of a 3D model obtained by

0498: The value of image fusion in coronary angiography for the detection of coronary artery bypass graft

The coronary angiography among patients with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) are more complex procedures with more X-ray exposure, longer compared to conventional coronary angiography. Image fusion is a new technology allowing a fusion in real-time of a 3D model obtained by reconstruction of computed tomography (CT) images with fluoroscopic images. To evaluate the contribution of image fusion in coronary angiography for the detection of CABG. A prospective study over 9 months, single center comparing the use of image fusion to conventional coronary angiography. All patients coming for angiographic control of CABG were included in the study. Patients who had previously (for another indication) a chest CT with injection of contrast media were the fusion image group, patients without prior injected chest CT constituted the control group. For patients in the fusion group, the aorta, the CABG, sternotomy sutures, the bronchi and a vertebra were reconstructed in 3D from CT acquisitions and these images were incorporated in real-time on fluoroscopic images. The following parameters were reported in both groups and compared: search time of CABG, procedure time, X-Ray exposure and the amount of contrast. 59 patients were included, 13 in the fusion image group, 46 in the control group. There were not significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of general characteristics patients and procedures. The search time of CABG was significantly shorter in the fusion group of images in the control group (16.04 min±13.2 min vs 6.4 min±4.7 min, p=0.002), as well as procedure time (31.5 min±15.2 min vs 19.4 min± 6.8 min, p = 0.007), fluoroscopy time (14.76 min±8.3 min vs 9.3 min±4.2 min, p = 0.04), Air KERMA (822.9 mGy±475.5 mGy vs 569.1 mGy±242.4 mGy, p = 0.01) and amount of iodinated contrast (121 cc ± 43.5 cc vs 88.2 cc±30.8 cc, p = 0.01). 3D reconstruction of CABG from CT with real-time fusion on coronary angiography images may shorten the search time of CABG, procedure time, X-Ray exposure and the use of iodinated contrast compared to standard coronary angiography for diagnostic purposes in patients with CABG. Abstract 0498 – Figure: 3D picture merged with the real-time fluoroscopic

Planning US for Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of Small Hepatocellular Carcinomas (1–3 cm): Value of Fusion Imaging with Conventional US and CT/MR Images

PurposeTo assess whether fusion of conventional ultrasonography (US) with liver computed tomography/magnetic resonance images for planning US for percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation can reduce false-positive detection and enhance lesion detectability of small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) on conventional US. Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was waived. A total of 137 patients with single HCCs (mean ± standard deviation, 1.7 ± 0.6 cm; range, 1.1–3.0 cm) were included. Planning US was performed by two radiologists by using conventional US first and fusion imaging later in the same session. The false-positive detection rate of conventional US was assessed with the results of fusion imaging used as a reference standard. True-positive detection rates on conventional US and fusion imaging were compared by McNemar test. Initially undetectable HCCs on conventional US that became detectable after image fusion were also assessed. ResultsThe false-positive detection rate of conventional US was 7.7% (nine of 117). Overall true-positive detection rates on conventional US and fusion imaging were 78.8% (108 of 137) and 90.5% (124 of 137), respectively (P = .0002); the rates were significantly different between conventional US and fusion imaging for HCCs smaller than 2.0 cm, but not for HCCs 2.0 cm or larger. Of 20 initially undetectable HCCs on conventional US, nine (45.0%) became detectable after image fusion. ConclusionsFusion imaging for planning US for percutaneous RF ablation can reduce false-positive detection and enhance lesion detectability of small HCCs on conventional US.

Value of image fusion in the staging of prostatic carcinoma

We assessed the value of image fusion in the staging of prostatic cancer in a series of 32 patients who underwent preoperative evaluation with transrectal colour-Doppler ultrasonography (TRUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Colour-Doppler TRUS exams were performed using a 7.5-MHz biplanar probe. MRI exams were done with a scanner operating at 1.5 Tesla (T) using an endorectal coil. All patients underwent radical prostatectomy within 2 weeks from the imaging assessment. Whole-mount sections were prepared from the surgical specimens and were subsequently digitised by using a high-resolution scanner. The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) TRUS and MR images as well as the digitised pathological images were transferred to a graphic workstation to perform image fusion. Image fusion was technically possible in 25/32 cases in which axial TRUS images were available. The following fusion images were obtained: TRUS + pathological sections; MRI + pathological sections; TRUS + MRI + pathological sections. The final pathological staging concerning the T status was: four pT2b, fourteen pT2c, three pT3a and four pT3b. The three types of image fusion led to the following results: TRUS + pathological sections, correct staging in 20/25 cases (accuracy 80%); MRI + pathological sections, correct staging in 22/25 cases (accuracy 88%); TRUS + MRI + pathological sections, correct staging in 23/25 cases (accuracy 92%). Our study suggests that by using image fusion between colour-Doppler TRUS and endorectal MRI, it is possible to improve the accuracy of pathological staging in patients who are candidates for radical prostatectomy.

Value of image fusion using single photon emission computed tomography with integrated low dose computed tomography in comparison with a retrospective voxel-based method in neuroendocrine tumours

The objective was the evaluation of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with integrated low dose computed tomography (CT) in comparison with a retrospective fusion of SPECT and high-resolution CT and a side-by-side analysis for lesion localisation in patients with neuroendocrine tumours. Twenty-seven patients were examined by multidetector CT. Additionally, as part of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS), an integrated SPECT-CT was performed. SPECT and CT data were fused using software with a registration algorithm based on normalised mutual information. The reliability of the topographic assignment of lesions in SPECT-CT, retrospective fusion and side-by-side analysis was evaluated by two blinded readers. Two patients were not enrolled in the final analysis because of misregistrations in the retrospective fusion. Eighty-seven foci were included in the analysis. For the anatomical assignment of foci, SPECT-CT and retrospective fusion revealed overall accuracies of 91 and 94% (side-by-side analysis 86%). The correct identification of foci as lymph node manifestations (n=25) was more accurate by retrospective fusion (88%) than from SPECT-CT images (76%) or by side-by-side analysis (60%). Both modalities of image fusion appear to be well suited for the localisation of SRS foci and are superior to side-by-side analysis of non-fused images especially concerning lymph node manifestations.