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Design and validation of Segment - freely available software for cardiovascular image analysis

Heiberg, Einar LU ; Sjögren, Jane LU ; Ugander, Martin LU ; Carlsson, Marcus LU ; Engblom, Henrik LU and Arheden, Håkan LU (2010) In BMC Medical Imaging 10. p.1-13
Abstract

Background: Commercially available software for cardiovascular image analysis often has limited functionality and frequently lacks the careful validation that is required for clinical studies. We have already implemented a cardiovascular image analysis software package and released it as freeware for the research community. However, it was distributed as a stand-alone application and other researchers could not extend it by writing their own custom image analysis algorithms. We believe that the work required to make a clinically applicable prototype can be reduced by making the software extensible, so that researchers can develop their own modules or improvements. Such an initiative might then serve as a bridge between image analysis... (More)

Background: Commercially available software for cardiovascular image analysis often has limited functionality and frequently lacks the careful validation that is required for clinical studies. We have already implemented a cardiovascular image analysis software package and released it as freeware for the research community. However, it was distributed as a stand-alone application and other researchers could not extend it by writing their own custom image analysis algorithms. We believe that the work required to make a clinically applicable prototype can be reduced by making the software extensible, so that researchers can develop their own modules or improvements. Such an initiative might then serve as a bridge between image analysis research and cardiovascular research. The aim of this article is therefore to present the design and validation of a cardiovascular image analysis software package (Segment) and to announce its release in a source code format.Results: Segment can be used for image analysis in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Some of its main features include loading of DICOM images from all major scanner vendors, simultaneous display of multiple image stacks and plane intersections, automated segmentation of the left ventricle, quantification of MRI flow, tools for manual and general object segmentation, quantitative regional wall motion analysis, myocardial viability analysis and image fusion tools. Here we present an overview of the validation results and validation procedures for the functionality of the software. We describe a technique to ensure continued accuracy and validity of the software by implementing and using a test script that tests the functionality of the software and validates the output. The software has been made freely available for research purposes in a source code format on the project home page http://segment.heiberg.se.Conclusions: Segment is a well-validated comprehensive software package for cardiovascular image analysis. It is freely available for research purposes provided that relevant original research publications related to the software are cited.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
BMC Medical Imaging
volume
10
article number
1
pages
1 - 13
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • scopus:76949088162
  • pmid:20064248
ISSN
1471-2342
DOI
10.1186/1471-2342-10-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
472f0019-5df9-4a02-8810-2224e624c188
date added to LUP
2017-04-07 22:53:49
date last changed
2024-06-24 18:49:37
@article{472f0019-5df9-4a02-8810-2224e624c188,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Commercially available software for cardiovascular image analysis often has limited functionality and frequently lacks the careful validation that is required for clinical studies. We have already implemented a cardiovascular image analysis software package and released it as freeware for the research community. However, it was distributed as a stand-alone application and other researchers could not extend it by writing their own custom image analysis algorithms. We believe that the work required to make a clinically applicable prototype can be reduced by making the software extensible, so that researchers can develop their own modules or improvements. Such an initiative might then serve as a bridge between image analysis research and cardiovascular research. The aim of this article is therefore to present the design and validation of a cardiovascular image analysis software package (Segment) and to announce its release in a source code format.Results: Segment can be used for image analysis in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Some of its main features include loading of DICOM images from all major scanner vendors, simultaneous display of multiple image stacks and plane intersections, automated segmentation of the left ventricle, quantification of MRI flow, tools for manual and general object segmentation, quantitative regional wall motion analysis, myocardial viability analysis and image fusion tools. Here we present an overview of the validation results and validation procedures for the functionality of the software. We describe a technique to ensure continued accuracy and validity of the software by implementing and using a test script that tests the functionality of the software and validates the output. The software has been made freely available for research purposes in a source code format on the project home page http://segment.heiberg.se.Conclusions: Segment is a well-validated comprehensive software package for cardiovascular image analysis. It is freely available for research purposes provided that relevant original research publications related to the software are cited.</p>}},
  author       = {{Heiberg, Einar and Sjögren, Jane and Ugander, Martin and Carlsson, Marcus and Engblom, Henrik and Arheden, Håkan}},
  issn         = {{1471-2342}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  pages        = {{1--13}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Medical Imaging}},
  title        = {{Design and validation of Segment - freely available software for cardiovascular image analysis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2342-10-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/1471-2342-10-1}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}