In:
Acta Radiologica, SAGE Publications, Vol. 56, No. 12 ( 2015-12), p. 1419-1427
Abstract:
Despite novel software solutions, liver volume segmentation is still a time-consuming procedure and often requires further manual optimization. With the high signal intensity of the liver parenchyma in Gd-EOB enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), liver volume segmentation may be improved. Purpose To evaluate the practicability of threshold-based segmentation of the liver volume using Gd-EOB-enhanced MRI including a customized three-dimensional (3D) sequence. Material and Methods A total of 20 patients examined with Gd-EOB MRI (hepatobiliary phase T1-weighted (T1W) 3D sequence [VIBE]; flip angle [FA] , 10° and 30°) were enrolled in this retrospective study. The datasets were independently processed by two blinded observers (O1 and O2) in two ways: manual (man) and threshold-based (thresh; study method) segmentation of the liver each followed by an optimization step (man+opt and thresh+opt; man+opt [FA10°] served as reference method). Resulting liver volumes and segmentation times were compared. A liver conversion factor was calculated in percent, describing the non-hepatocellular fraction of the total liver volume, i.e. bile ducts and vessels. Results Thresh+opt (FA10°) was significantly faster compared to the reference method leading to a median volume overestimation of 4%/8% ( P 〈 0.001). Using thresh+opt (FA30°), segmentation was even faster ( P 〈 0.001) and even reduced median volume deviation of 0%/2% (O1/O2; both P 〉 0.2). The liver conversion factor was found to be 10%. Conclusion Threshold-based liver segmentation employing Gd-EOB-enhanced hepatobiliary phase standard T1W 3D sequence is accurate and time-saving. The performance of this approach can be further improved by increasing the FA.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0284-1851
,
1600-0455
DOI:
10.1177/0284185114558975
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
2015
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2024579-8
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