Abstract:
A medical image is analyzed using an algorithm requiring input parameters. Values of the input parameters are derived from metadata, indicating properties of the medical image. For example, the metadata may indicate the type of image acquisition device or settings used to create the medical image. In another example, the metadata may relate to the patient upon whom the image is based. This allows optimum values to be selected for the parameters.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of GB Patent Application No. 0426177.2, filed Nov. 29, 2004, and EP Patent Application No. ______, filed Mar. 31, 2005, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to digital medical image analysis, particularly by means of a computer-implemented algorithm.  
         [0004]     2. Background  
         [0005]     Medical images are a valuable tool for detection, diagnosis and evaluation of response to treatment of disease, as well as surgical planning. A variety of physical techniques or modalities have been developed for producing these images, including projection X-rays, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound (US), positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The images may be generated digitally (using, e.g., US, CT or MRI) or digitized from an analog image (e.g., film). Conventionally, trained radiologists or other clinicians review these images to facilitate detection of an abnormality, for example. A radiologist or clinician can review and annotate the digitized images and generate a report based on the review. All of the resultant data may be stored for later retrieval and analysis.  
         [0006]     The task of a user (e.g., radiologist, clinician, etc.) can be made easier by reviewing the images with application software providing visualization and analysis tools to manipulate and evaluate these images in 2, 3 and 4 dimensions (for images that vary in time). However, the evaluation process can result in missed abnormalities because of normal limitations in human perception. This perception issue is worsened by the ever-increasing amount of information now available to the radiologist or clinician for review. Now, in the information-intense but resource- and time-constrained environments in which radiologists work, they are forced to make expedited decisions, potentially resulting in increased miss rate.  
         [0007]     Computer Assisted Detection or Diagnosis (CAD) software has been designed to reduce errors of human perception, as well as to enhance the productivity of radiologists or other clinicians in an information-intense environment, by automatically performing for the user the more mundane tasks (e.g., automatic measurement) and focusing the radiologist&#39;s limited time on interpretation. CAD software can automatically or semi-automatically detect and measure abnormalities, characterize abnormalities, measure temporal progression or regression of disease and surgically plan based on CAD information. For example, the applicant&#39;s MedicHeart™, MedicLung™ and MedicColon™ diagnostic software perform semiautomatic and automatic analysis of CT scans of the heart, lung and colon, respectively.  
         [0008]     CAD software uses algorithms to analyze a given medical image. No one algorithm is robust enough to analyze accurately all types of medical images. For example, abnormal structures in the lung have different image characteristics from those in the colon. Images acquired using different modalities or combinations of modalities (e.g., MRI, CT, US) have different resolutions and image characteristics, and hence require more specific algorithms to analyze them. Given a choice of CAD algorithms designed to more closely address the needs of a specific disease state or acquisition modality, the user of CAD software would likely opt for that algorithm designed more specifically (e.g., the clinical condition, modality or focused anatomy of the dataset) and select the appropriate algorithm for analysis of that type of image. Alternatively, the user may only be interested in analyzing one type of image and therefore only use one type of algorithm.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,510 to Yamada et al. describes a system for automating the selection of an appropriate algorithm for the analysis of a medical image by inspecting attribute data, identifying the image type and selecting an algorithm appropriate for that type.  
         [0010]     Many CAD algorithms rely on a predefined set of parameter values for detection. For example, the Agatston method, as originally described in “Quantification of Coronary Artery Calcium Using Ultrafast Computed Tomography”, Agatston A S, Janowitz W R, Hildner F J et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 1990 15:827-832 (hereinafter “the Agatston article”), applies a threshold of 130 Hounsfield units (HU) to the CT image, and identifies all pixels above that threshold as containing calcium. A scoring system is then used to rate the severity of the calcification, based on the number of pixels above the threshold multiplied by a weight based on the highest intensity within the calcification. If the highest intensity is between 130 and 200 HU, then the weight is 1. If the highest intensity is between 200 and 300 HU, the weight is 2. If the highest intensity is greater than 300 HU, the weight is 3. The threshold of 130 HU works reasonably well with the types of CT scan images available at the time of publication of the Agatston article, but there is no general agreement as to how this threshold should be modified for new types of CT scan, such as data acquired with thinner collimation.  
         [0011]     Alternatively, the CAD application software may allow the user to set the values of parameters used in the analysis. For example, CAR® software (available from Medicsight PLC, a company located in London, England), aspects of which are described in a prior patent application GB0420147.1 to Dehmeshki, provides a user interface allowing the user to interactively modify the parameters used by an algorithm. The results of any selected parameters are available to the user. While this user interaction provides great flexibility, the optimum parameter values may not be known. For example, the user may select a less optimal parameter value for analysis. In another example, the user may select the parameter value by trial and error, further impacting productivity.  
         [0012]     Using predefined parameter values has the advantage of simplicity and consistency, but may not always provide better results, as compared to using parameter values that are not predefined. While user-defined parameter values provide greater flexibility, they may not provide better results unless the optimum parameter values are chosen. Allowing the user to set parameter values adds to the complexity of CAD software.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,322 describes an interactive user modification function in which the software displays detected microcalcifications, and the user may then add or delete microcalcifications. The software modifies its estimated likelihood of malignancy accordingly.  
         [0014]     EP-A-1398722 describes a “dynamic CAD” system in which an image is processed to identify features of interest and to extract parameters from the features of interest. The image is post-processed using the extracted parameters to generate a second image. The post-processing parameters are derived from the image itself, rather than from metadata associated with the image.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,746 describes a computerized diagnostic system, which may process medical images to derive feature vectors. The system inputs the feature vectors together with other clinical parameters into a “fact database”, which is then processed to obtain a diagnosis.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of analyzing a digital medical image using a computer-implemented algorithm having one or more variable parameters, wherein the value of at least one of the parameters is selected automatically according to at least one indicated attribute associated with, but not derived from, the medical image.  
         [0017]     At least one of the parameters may be selected according to at least one indicated attribute of the patient upon whom the image is based. At least one of the attributes may be a suspected or diagnosed clinical indication of the patient. At least one of the attributes may be all or a component of the clinical history of the patient. At least one of the attributes may be non-clinical patient data, such as age, sex, height, weight or other statistical data.  
         [0018]     At least one of the parameters may be selected according to an indicated property or setting of an image acquisition device used to prepare the image. The property may be the type (e.g., make and/or model) of the acquisition device. The property value or setting may be a resolution, dose or other setting specific to the particular acquisition protocol used to create the image.  
         [0019]     At least one attribute may be indicated by metadata associated with the image. For example, the indicated attribute may be in a header field of a file containing the medical image, a tag associated with the image, or data linked to the image. The metadata may be read automatically and used to set parameter values for the algorithm, without user intervention.  
         [0020]     The at least one attribute may be indicated by the user, without requiring the user to specify parameter values used by the algorithm. For example, the user may input the clinical indication, clinical history data, or non-clinical statistical data for the patient. The method then selects the at least one parameter value according to the at least one attribute indicated by the user.  
         [0021]     In one embodiment, the automated method selects an optimum parameter value set, which is then provided as input to the algorithm. The image is processed using the algorithm based on the selected one or more parameter values. A plurality of optimum parameter value sets may be stored, and the optimum parameter value set may be selected from the stored plurality of sets. Additionally or alternatively, the optimum parameter value set may be derived by a predetermined function of at least the one or more indicated attributes. The optimum parameter value sets and their relationship to the indicated attributes may be derived theoretically or empirically.  
         [0022]     According to a further aspect of the invention, the relationship between attribute values and optimum parameter values is derived from a plurality of training digital medical images, each having associated metadata, for which analysis results are available.  
         [0023]     In one embodiment, training images having known corresponding attributes are analyzed using the algorithm. Preferably, many training images are analyzed. The training images may be images of real patients or of phantoms (i.e., objects simulating structures in the body, and having known attributes). The analysis may be controlled by one or more users who are able to select the parameter values for the algorithm manually (for example, using the CAR® software described above). Preferably, the users are experienced radiologists and/or experienced users of the algorithm. The training images may also be inspected visually by experienced radiologists to facilitate determining abnormalities in the training images. The optimum parameter values for each training image may be determined as the parameter values for which the results of the algorithm most closely match the results of the visual inspection and/or as the optimum parameter values chosen by the experienced users. A plurality of different optimum parameter value sets may be derived for each training image, as a function of the desired sensitivity or specificity.  
         [0024]     For example, the training images may be selected from images stored locally. In another example, the training images may be available over a local or wide-area network. A search may be performed to identify suitable training images. Selected training images may be weighted according to their relevance to the candidate image.  
         [0025]     A relationship is then derived between the optimum parameter value sets for each of the training images and the associated attributes of the training images. The relationship may comprise a function, one or more rules, a neural net and/or fuzzy logic, to provide some examples.  
         [0026]     An advantage of the method is that, for a given algorithm, the optimum parameters for that algorithm may be selected for any image. The optimum parameters may be selected automatically, without requiring user intervention, thus alleviating the time constraints on the radiologist. This may also enable accurate batch analysis of multiple images. In the case of the attributes being indicated by the user, this allows the user to enter known and/or meaningful data, rather than requiring the user to choose parameters that may have little meaning outside the context of the algorithm. However, the user may specify the criteria for which optimum parameters are selected, such as greater sensitivity or specificity.  
         [0027]     The image metadata may have been entered by an operator of the image acquisition device or by a technician subsequent to the capture of the image. Alternatively, the image metadata may have been recorded automatically by the image acquisition device and/or its associated control devices. Hence, a user who enters the attributes and a user to whom the results of the algorithm are presented need not necessarily be the same. The entry of attributes and the review of the results may be performed using respective distinct data entry and output devices.  
         [0028]     The derived optimum parameter values may be set as default parameter values, which the user may modify by means of user manipulated filters. The results of using the modified parameter values to analyze the image may be displayed prior to output of the final results. The results may be a modified version of the image, displayed so as to allow comparison with the original image. This allows the result of the user&#39;s visual inspection of the original image to be compared to the result of the analysis using the algorithm. According to an embodiment, the digital medical image and the modified version of the image are displayed simultaneously. In another embodiment, the digital medical image and the modified version of the image are displayed alternately.  
         [0029]     The method of the present invention may be performed by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES  
       [0030]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art(s) to make and use the invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the leftmost digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.  
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a medical image acquisition device and a remote computer to process image data received from the medical image acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example computer system, in which the present invention may be implemented as programmable code.  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of the main steps of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of data relationships corresponding to the method according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 5   a  shows an example input medical image.  
         [0036]      FIG. 5   b  shows an example result of processing the input medical image with a sphericity enhancement algorithm using optimum parameter values according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is a graph illustrating a relationship between attribute values and optimum parameters according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is a system in which multiple training images are accessed over a network.  
         [0039]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart of the main steps of a method that allows a user to modify optimum parameter values according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0040]      FIG. 9  is a screenshot of a user interface for modifying the parameter values according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
     I. DIGITAL MEDICAL IMAGE  
       [0041]     The present invention is applicable to digital medical images. One example of such an image is a CT scan image. A CT scan image is a digital image comprising one or a series of CT image slices obtained from a CT scan of an area of a human or animal patient. Each slice is a 2-dimensional digital grey-scale image of the x-ray absorption of the scanned area. The properties of the slice depend on the CT scanner used. For example, a high-resolution multi-slice CT scanner may produce images with a resolution of 0.5-0.6 mm/pixel in x and y directions (i.e., in the plane of the slice). Each pixel may have 32-bit grayscale resolution. The intensity value of each pixel is normally expressed in Hounsfield units (HU). Sequential slices may be separated by a constant distance along a z direction (i.e., the scan separation axis). For example, the sequential slices may be separated by a distance in a range of approximately 0.75-2.5 millimeters (mm). According to an embodiment, the scan image is a three-dimensional (3D) grey scale image, for example, with an overall size that depends on the area and/or number of slices scanned. In another embodiment, the scan image is a single two-dimensional (2D) grayscale image representing a single slice.  
         [0042]     The CT scan may be obtained by any CT scanning technique, such as electron beam computed tomography (EBCT), multi-detector or spiral scan or any technique which produces as output a 2D, 3D or 4D image representing X-ray absorption.  
         [0043]     The invention is not limited to CT scan images, and may be applied to other digital medical images, such as MRI, US, PET or projection X-ray images. Conventional X-ray images may be developed on an X-ray film prior to being digitized.  
         [0044]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the scan image is created by a computer  104 . Computer  104  receives scan data from a scanner  102  and constructs the scan image based on the scan data. The scan image is often saved as an electronic file or a series of files which are stored on a storage medium  106 , such as a fixed or removable disc. The file or files include metadata associated with the scan image. The scan image may be processed by computer  104 , or the scan image may be transferred to another computer  108  which runs software for processing and displaying the image as described below. The image processing software may be stored on a computer recordable medium, such as a removable disc, or downloaded over a network.  
       II. EXAMPLE COMPUTER SYSTEM  
       [0045]     Computer  104  or  108  can be any type of computer system, including but not limited to an example computer system  200  described below with reference to  FIG. 2 . Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as programmable code for execution by computer system  200 . Various embodiments of the invention are described in terms of computer system  200 . After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the art how to implement the invention using other computer systems and/or computer architectures.  
         [0046]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , computer system  200  includes one or more processors, such as processor  204 . Processor  204  may be any type of processor, including but not limited to a special purpose or a general-purpose digital signal processor. Processor  204  is connected to a communication infrastructure  206  (for example, a bus or network).  
         [0047]     Computer system  200  also includes a main memory  208 , preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory  210 . Secondary memory  210  may include, for example, a hard disk drive  212  and/or a removable storage drive  214 , representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. Removable storage drive  214  reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit  218  in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit  218  represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc., which is read by and written to by removable storage drive  214 . As will be appreciated, removable storage unit  218  includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data.  
         [0048]     In alternative implementations, secondary memory  210  may include other similar means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system  200 . Such means may include, for example, a removable storage unit  222  and an interface  220 . Examples of such means may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM or a PROM) and associated socket, and other removable storage units  222  and interfaces  220  which allow software and data to be transferred from removable storage unit  222  to computer system  200 .  
         [0049]     Computer system  200  may also include a communication interface  224 . Communication interface  224  allows software and data to be transferred between computer system  200  and external devices. Examples of communication interface  224  may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communication port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via communication interface  224  are in the form of signals  228 , which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals capable of being received by communication interface  224 . These signals  228  are provided to communication interface  224  via a communication path  226 . Communication path  226  carries signals  228  and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, a radio frequency link, or any other suitable communication channel. For instance, communication path  226  may be implemented using a combination of channels.  
         [0050]     In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used generally to refer to media such as removable storage unit  218 , a hard disk installed in hard disk drive  212 , and signals  228 . These computer program products are means for providing software to computer system  200 .  
         [0051]     Computer programs (also called computer control logic) are stored in main memory  208  and/or secondary memory  210 . Computer programs may also be received via communication interface  224 . Such computer programs, when executed, enable computer system  200  to implement the present invention as discussed herein. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of computer system  200 . Where the invention is implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system  200  using removable storage drive  214 , hard disk drive  212 , or communication interface  224 , to provide some examples.  
         [0052]     In alternative embodiments, the invention can be implemented as control logic in hardware, firmware, or software or any combination thereof.  
       III. GENERAL METHOD  
       [0053]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided to process a digital medical image using an algorithm to identify one or more medical abnormalities. In an embodiment, the method is performed using a computer program, though the scope of the invention is not limited in this respect.  
         [0054]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart  300  of the main steps (steps  302 - 310 ) of the method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The invention, however, is not limited to the description provided by the flowchart  300 . Rather, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) from the teachings provided herein that other functional flows are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Flowchart  300  will be described with continued reference to the data relationships illustrated in  FIG. 4 , though the method is not limited to that embodiment.  
         [0055]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of data relationships corresponding to the method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , the metadata  402  is associated with the medical image  404 . The optimum parameter values  406  are based on the metadata  402 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the medical image  404  and the optimum parameter values  406  are provided as inputs to the algorithm  408 , which provides the analysis result  410  as an output.  
         [0056]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a medical image  404  is accessed at step  302 . Metadata  402  associated with the medical image  404  is accessed at step  304 . At step  306 , optimum parameter values  406  are derived from the metadata  402 . According to an embodiment, the optimum parameter values  406  are derived using a predetermined relationship between values of the metadata  402  and the optimum parameter values  406 . For example, the relationship between the optimum parameter values  406  and the metadata  402  can be determined, such that the optimum parameters  406  may be derived thereafter based on the metadata  402  and the relationship. At step  308 , the medical image  404  is processed using an algorithm  408  and the optimum parameter values  406 . For instance, the medical image  404  and the optimum parameter values  406  may be provided to the algorithm  408 , which produces an analysis result  410  at step  310 , based on the medical image  404  and the optimum parameter values  406 . Each of the steps  302 - 310  mentioned above is described in detail below with reference to  FIG. 4 .  
       IV. IMAGE METADATA  
       [0057]     Referring to steps  302  and  304 , the metadata  402  may be generated at substantially the same time as the medical image  404  is created, for example by the computer  104  and/or the scanner  102 . The metadata  402  may be created automatically and/or entered by a user of the computer  104 .  
         [0058]     As an example of automatically created data, a constant attribute of the scanner  102 , such as its modality, make and/or model may be recorded as the metadata  402  for each image  404 . As another alternative or additional example, a variable attribute specific to each image  404 , such as a setting for the scan used to create that image  404 , may be recorded as the metadata  402 . The setting may be an image resolution, a contrast setting, a radiation intensity setting or any other setting appropriate to the modality and/or type of the scanner  102 .  
         [0059]     As an example of user-entered data, the user of the computer  104  may enter one or more attributes of the patient scanned by the scanner  102  to create the image  404 . The attributes may include one or more of: clinical information about the patient, such as a diagnosed clinical indication; a clinical estimation, such as a suspected clinical indication; and patient statistics, such as age, sex, height, weight or other statistical data which is not in itself a clinical indication.  
         [0060]     The metadata  402  may be stored in a header field of a file containing the digital medical image  404 , in a tag associated with the image  404 , and/or in data linked to the image  404 . For example, the metadata  402  and digital medical image  404  may be recorded in the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format, which stores metadata in a header of an image file, as defined by the specification available on 19 Nov. 2004 at: ftp://medical.nema.org/medical/dicom/2004/03v04dif/.  
         [0061]     Alternatively, the metadata  402  and digital medical image  404  may be recorded in the Analyze format, which stores metadata in a separate file from the image, as defined by the specification available on the same date at: http://www.mayo.edu/bir/PDF/ANALYZE75.pdf.  
         [0062]     In step  306 , optimum parameter values  406  are derived. Examples of such optimum parameter value derivation methods are described further below.  
       V. ALGORITHM  
       [0063]     Referring to steps  308  and  310 , the algorithm  408  takes as its input the medical image  404  and one or more optimum parameter values  406 . Based on at least these inputs, the algorithm analyzes the image  404  to generate an analysis result  410  indicative of any abnormality in the object of the image  404 . For example, the analysis result  410  may indicate one or more of: whether an abnormality is present; the position of one or more abnormalities; a confidence level of the detection of an abnormality; a type of an abnormality; and a quantity relating to an abnormality, such as a mass or a volume.  
         [0064]     One example of such an algorithm  408  is a sphericity enhancement algorithm, which has as input parameters a sphericity threshold, an intensity range and a size range. The sphericity enhancement filter analyzes each volume element (voxel) in a 3D scan image and compares each voxel with surrounding voxels of similar intensity to derive a 3-dimensional (3D) curvature of a surface of equal intensity. Surfaces having a sphericity exceeding the sphericity parameter are identified as belonging to spherical objects. Voxels contained within those surfaces are grouped together as parts of the same object. Once all such objects have been identified, those having a maximum intensity within the intensity range and a size within the size range are indicated in the analysis result  410 . The sphericity enhancement algorithm is used to identify nodules in images of the lung, such as lung CT images.  FIG. 5   a  shows an example single slice CT image of a lung phantom.  FIG. 5   b  shows the image of  FIG. 5   a  after processing by the sphericity enhancement algorithm using the optimum parameters.  
         [0065]     Other examples of algorithms and their input parameters include an edge enhancement filter having edge enhancement parameters, for detecting abnormalities in the lung parenchyma, and a polyp filter having flatness parameters, for detecting objects having a spherical element and a flatness between maximum and minimum flatness values, for detecting polyps in the colon.  
         [0066]     The algorithm  408  may be selected from a plurality of different available algorithms, based for example on some or all of the image metadata  402 . The optimum parameter values  406  may then be derived for the selected algorithm  408 .  
       VI. OPTIMUM PARAMETER DERIVATION  
       [0067]     Referring to step  306 , methods of deriving the relationship between metadata values and optimum parameter values will now be described. The relationship may be derived by theoretical knowledge of the effect of image attributes on the optimum parameters, or empirically. In an empirical method, a large number of training images, having known attributes which vary among the training images, are processed using the algorithm for which the relationship is to be determined. The training images may be images of real patients or of phantoms (i.e., objects simulating structures in the body and having known attributes). The processing may be controlled by one or more experienced users able to select the parameter values for the algorithm manually (for example, using the CAR® software described above). Preferably, the experienced users are experienced radiologists and/or experienced users of the algorithm. The training images may also be inspected visually by experienced radiologists to determine as accurately as possible any abnormalities in the training images. The optimum parameter values for each training image may be determined as the parameter values for which the results of the algorithm most closely match the results of the visual inspection and/or as the optimum parameter values chosen by the experienced users. Each training image may be associated with multiple sets of determined optimum parameter values, depending on the sensitivity/specificity requirements of the user.  
         [0068]     Alternatively, the training images may include metadata indicating the results of analysis performed automatically and/or by visual inspection using the training images. The optimum parameter values for each training image may be determined as the parameter values for which the results of the algorithm most closely match the results of the analysis as indicated by the metadata.  
         [0069]     The result of the processing is a set of one-to-one relationships between the attribute values of each of the training images and the determined optimum parameter values for the respective training images. The attribute values and optimum parameter values for each training image may be stored as training image data sets. However, the set of relationships should be generalized to one or more general relationships which can be applied to new images and their respective attribute values.  
         [0070]     In a simplified example, a single image attribute value may be plotted against a single optimum parameter value, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The result points from the training images are shown as stars, and a curve is then fitted to these points. The curve represents the generalized relationship in this example. To analyze a new image in an embodiment of the invention, a new attribute value x of the image is input, and the corresponding optimum parameter value y is derived from the curve. Hence, the curve represents the relationship between the attribute value and the optimum parameter value. The general relationship may involve more than one attribute, more than one parameter value, and/or a more complex relationship between them. The general relationship may comprise one or more functions, one or more rules, a neural net and/or fuzzy logic, to provide some examples.  
         [0071]     As described above, the optimum parameter values may be derived from one or more training images. The training images are digital medical images which may be stored locally or accessed over a local or wide-area network. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the training images may be accessed using a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) network  702  to access multiple distributed sources of medical images  704 ,  706 .  
         [0072]     The training images may be selected from a large number of available digital medical images by searching for images using one or more search criteria and/or by selecting a desired set of images as the training images for optimum parameter derivation. The selected training images may be processed automatically to derive optimum parameters based on the selected training images.  
         [0073]     To derive the generalized relationship, only the stored datasets, including the metadata and the optimum parameter values for the training images, need to be accessed. It is not necessary to access the training images themselves.  
         [0074]     By selecting the training images used to derive the optimum parameters, the user may customize the optimum parameters for a particular image type represented by the training images. For example, the user may wish to optimize the parameters for a new CT scanner  102 . By selecting training images produced by other CT scanners of the same type, the user may configure the parameter values for the new CT scanner, without having to derive these by trial and error.  
         [0075]     The user may weight the training images used to derive the optimum parameters, so as to give greater weight to those images which are more relevant to the application desired by the user. For example, the user may derive the optimum parameters for a specific patient using, as training images, previous scan images for that patient and scan images for other patients produced by the same scanner  102 . In this example, the user may select a higher weight for the previous scan images of the same patient than for scan images of other patients.  
         [0076]     The parameters used by the algorithm may be optimized according to specific criteria, which can be selected by a user. For example, the user can specify that the parameters be optimized for greater sensitivity, or for greater specificity (e.g., so as to avoid false positives). Where the test images have multiple sets of optimum parameter values depending on sensitivity/specificity requirements, the general relationship may be derived from the set corresponding to the user&#39;s requirements.  
         [0077]     Alternatively, the user may specify other criteria, such as the user&#39;s level of experience. Experienced radiologists may be able to tolerate a greater sensitivity setting, because they are more easily able to reject false positives. Less experienced radiologists may prefer a lower sensitivity. Thus, the user need not specify explicitly the required sensitivity. Instead, the user may specify the user&#39;s level of experience, from which a required sensitivity level may be derived.  
         [0078]     The optimum parameters used by the algorithm may be adjusted adaptively according to the results of the algorithm based on past scans. In other words, scan images processed by the algorithm may be used automatically as training images to optimize the parameters for processing subsequent scans using the algorithm.  
       VII. OPTIMUM PARAMETER DEFAULTS  
       [0079]     In the embodiments described above, the optimum parameter values  406  are used as input to the algorithm  408 . Advantageously, this reduces the need for the user to set parameter values manually. In an alternative embodiment, the derived optimum parameter values  406  are set as default values which may be adjusted by the user.  
         [0080]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart of the main steps of a method that allows a user to modify optimum parameter values according to an embodiment of the present invention. The invention, however, is not limited to the description provided by flowchart  800 . Rather, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) from the teachings provided herein that other functional flows are within the scope and spirit of the present invention.  
         [0081]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , steps  802  to  808  correspond to steps  302  to  308  of flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 8 , the result provided by processing the image using the derived optimum parameter values is displayed at step  810 . A user interface includes means to allow the user to modify some or all of the parameter values. If the user does not change the parameter values, as determined at step  812 , then the final analysis result is output at step  814 . However, if the user modifies the parameter values, as determined at step  812 , the image is re-processed at step  808  using the modified parameter values, and the analysis results are re-displayed at step  810 , until the user confirms that the parameter values are not to be changed (i.e., the current parameter values are to be accepted) at step  812 . The final analysis result is output at step  814  using the accepted parameter values.  
         [0082]      FIG. 9  shows a screenshot  900  of a user interface for modifying the parameter values as described above with respect to step  812  of flowchart  800 . The user interface is shown in a window comprising an original image pane  910  and an enhanced image pane  912 . The original image pane  910  displays a two-dimensional slice of a scan of a lung phantom (i.e., a model approximating the lung and containing objects with known properties, used for testing and calibration). The enhanced image pane  912  displays a version of the original image processed by the algorithm  408  so as to highlight features of the original image.  
         [0083]     The current parameter values are displayed by a parameter window  916 , which allows the user to modify the parameter values. The user may click a button  930  in the parameter window  916  to apply the modified parameter values to update the enhanced image.  
         [0084]     In an alternative user interface, a single scan image is displayed in the user interface window. The single scan image can be switched between the original image and an enhanced image by the user, for example by toggling a button in the filter window. Image display parameters are kept unchanged when switching between the original image and the enhanced image, so that the user can easily compare the enhancement and the original image.  
       VIII. CONCLUSION  
       [0085]     Example embodiments of the methods, systems, and components of the present invention have been described herein. As noted elsewhere, these example embodiments have been described for illustrative purposes only, and are not limiting. Other embodiments are possible and are covered by the invention. Such other embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.