Automated segmentation of the skeleton in whole-body bone scans: influence of difference in atlas
Abstract
Aim Automated segmentation of the skeleton is the first step for quantitative analysis and computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) of whole-body bone scans. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of differences in skeletal atlas on the automated segmentation of skeletons in a Japanese patient group. Methods The study was based on a bone scan CAD system that included a skeletal atlas obtained using 10 normal bone scans from European patients and 23 normal bone scans from Japanese patients. These were incorporated into the CAD system. The performance of the skeletal segmentation, based on either the European or the Japanese Atlas, was evaluated independently by three observers in a group of 50 randomly selected bone scans from Japanese patients. Results The skeletal segmentation was classified as correct in 41-44 of the 50 cases by the three observers using the Japanese atlas. The corresponding results were 15-18 of the 50 cases using the European atlas, and this difference was statistically significant (P