Utility of whole slide imaging and virtual microscopy in prostate pathology

Whole slide imaging (WSI) has been used in conjunction with virtual microscopy (VM) for training or proficiency testing purposes, multicentre research, remote frozen section diagnosis and to seek specialist second opinion in a number of organ systems. The feasibility of using WSI/VM for routine surgical pathology reporting has also been explored. In this review, we discuss the utility and limitations of WSI/VM technology in the histological assessment of specimens from the prostate. Features of WSI/VM that are particularly well suited to assessment of prostate pathology include the ability to examine images at different magnifications as well as to view histology and immunohistochemistry side-by-side on the screen. Use of WSI/VM would also solve the difficulty in obtaining multiple identical copies of small lesions in prostate biopsies for teaching and proficiency testing. It would also permit annotation of the virtual slides, and has been used in a study of inter-observer variation of Gleason grading to facilitate precise identification of the foci on which grading decisions had been based. However, the large number of sections examined from each set of prostate biopsies would greatly increase time required for scanning as well as the size of the digital file, and would also be an issue if digital archiving of prostate biopsies is contemplated. Z-scanning of glass slides, a process that increases scanning time and file size would be required to permit focusing a virtual slide up and down to assess subtle nuclear features such as nucleolar prominence. The common use of large blocks to process prostatectomy specimens would also be an issue, as few currently available scanners can scan such blocks. A major component of proficiency testing of prostate biopsy assessment involves screening of the cores to detect small atypical foci. However, screening virtual slides of wavy fragmented prostate cores using a computer mouse aided by an overview image is very different from screening glass slides using a microscope stage. Hence, it may be more appropriate in this setting to mark the lesional area and focus only on the interpretation component of competency testing. Other issues limiting the use of digital pathology in prostate pathology include the cost of high quality slide scanners for WSI and high resolution monitors for VM as well as the requirement for fast Internet connection as even a subtle delay in presentation of images on the screen may be very disturbing for a pathologist used to the rapid viewing of glass slides under a microscope. However, these problems are likely to be overcome by technological advances in the future.     

基于改进C-V模型的肿瘤CT图像分割

针对传统C-V模型演化速度慢和不能很好分割灰度不均匀图像的缺点,从两个方面进行了改进。首先采用一个新颖的基于局部梯度的模型,使C-V模型初始轮廓曲线快速移到目标边界附近,大大缩短了演化时间;其次,结合GVF模型从两个方向指向目标边界的特点,为C-V模型的速度方程添加一个自适应速度调节项,使模型收敛于真实边界。通过肝脏肿瘤CT图像的分割,验证该方法是有效的。     

基于循环一致生成对抗网络的多模态影像刚性配准

目的:采用循环一致生成对抗网络(CycleGAN)方法在保证医学影像刚性配准精度的同时,降低图像配准的时间以及训练数据获取难度。方法:首先对训练数据进行标准化与归一化,同时对图像进行重采样与剪裁,去除多余的空气部分。其次采用阈值法与扫描线法获取图像的外轮廓信息,基于CycleGAN建立两个生成器与两个判别器,生成器输入配准图像对和输出配准结果,判别器输入配准图像对和输出配准程度。在原始CycleGAN损失函数基础上,增加轮廓损失项,以约束网络训练方向,提高收敛速度。结果:选取75例腹部病例,其中65例作为训练数据集,10例作为测试数据集,配准结果与配准软件Elastix对比。计算测试图像集外轮廓Dice系数,配准前图像对的平均Dice系数为0.858,Elastix配准后的平均Dice系数为0.926,本方法配准后的平均Dice系数为0.925。配准时间上Elastix的平均配准时间为12.1 s,本研究方法的平均配准时间为0.04 s,加速比达到302。结论:本方法在保证图像配准精度的同时极大降低了图像配准所需的时间,提高了配准流程工作效率。除此之外,与其他深度学习网络相比,本方法不需要真实配准结果以及传统相似性测度。     

基于PET/CT形变配准技术对放疗前后靶区变化的评估

PET图像提供的新陈代谢信息可用于判断放疗后肿瘤的复发区域,对于制订精确的放疗计划具有重要的临床意义。研究采用多分辨率形变配准的方法提取放疗前后CT图像的形变域,并将其作用于放疗前PET图像,与放疗后的PET图像相比较,通过设定图像中SUV 的阈值,判断勾画轮廓之间的重叠率,以获得图像中的高摄取区域,回顾性指导精确放疗。研究针对22例肺癌病例,实验结果显示放疗后残留的高代谢区域和放疗前GTV重叠较好:当阈值设定为SUV_max的70%、80%和90%时,对应的重叠率分别为(95.2±0.6)%、(96.6±3.4)%和100%;当阈值设定为SUV2.5和SUV5.0时,对应的重叠率为(86.0±6.6)%和(97.0±3.0)%。对氟代脱氧葡萄糖(FDG)高摄取区域的高重叠率表明病变区域在放疗前后的位置相对稳定,放疗后的残余肿瘤基本上位于放疗前靶区对FDG的摄取区域。初步实验结果证明,研究可用于判断靶区区域对放疗的反应,回顾性指导在放疗计划中,针对放疗后残余的靶区加大照射剂量,保护危及器官和组织,精确放疗。     

多模式医学图像的融合和配准技术

医学影像工程不断发展,出现了很多先进的成像设备,有力地支持了医学诊断和治疗。而以计算机技术为基础的成像后处理技术进一步提高了诊疗的可靠性。我们着重介绍了多模式医学图像融合和配准的技术内容和应用。     

Dual adaptation to two opposing visuomotor rotations when each is associated with different regions of workspace

Studies examining dual adaptation to opposing novel environments have yielded contradictory results, with previous evidence supporting both successful dual adaptation and interference leading to poorer adaptive performance. Whether or not interference is observed during dual adaptation appears to be dependent on the method used to allow the performer of the task to distinguish between two novel environments. This experiment tested if colour cues, a separation in workspace, and presentation schedule, could be used to distinguish between two opposing visuomotor rotations and enable dual adaptation. Through the use of a purpose designed manipulandum, each visuomotor rotation was either presented in the same region of workspace and associated with colour cues (Group 1), different regions of workspace in addition to colour cues (Groups 2 and 3) or different regions of workspace only (Groups 4 and 5). We also assessed the effectiveness of the workspace separation with both randomised and alternating presentation schedules (Groups 4 and 5). The results indicated that colour cues were not effective at enabling dual adaptation when each of the visuomotor rotations was associated with the same region of workspace. When associated with different regions of workspace, however, dual adaptation to the opposing rotations was successful regardless of whether colour cues were present or the type of presentation schedule.     

一种基于模糊均差和小波变换的医学图像去噪方法

小波阈值萎缩法能够有效地去除图像中的噪声,去噪阈值直接影响去噪的效果,而噪声标准差在去噪阈值的确定中起着至关重要的作用。针对医学图像的特点、基于寻找更合适的噪声标准差估计方法,本研究提出了一种新的利用模糊均差代替普通标准方差估计噪声标准差的方法。在各层小波分解的低频图像中利用模糊积分估计噪声标准差,然后确定每一层去噪阈值,进行图像去噪。试验结果表明,本研究算法在去除噪声的同时也较好地保持了图像的细节。     

A new automatic image analysis method for assessing estrogen receptors’ status in breast tissue specimens

Manual assessment of estrogen receptors′ (ER) status from breast tissue microscopy images is a subjective, time consuming and error prone process. Automatic image analysis methods offer the possibility to obtain consistent, objective and rapid diagnoses of histopathology specimens. In breast cancer biopsies immunohistochemically (IHC) stained for ER, cancer cell nuclei present a large variety in their characteristics that bring various difficulties for traditional image analysis methods. In this paper, we propose a new automatic method to perform both segmentation and classification of breast cell nuclei in order to give quantitative assessment and uniform indicators of IHC staining that will help pathologists in their diagnostic. Firstly, a color geometric active contour model incorporating a spatial fuzzy clustering algorithm is proposed to detect the contours of all cell nuclei in the image. Secondly, overlapping and touching nuclei are separated using an improved watershed algorithm based on a concave vertex graph. Finally, to identify positive and negative stained nuclei, all the segmented nuclei are classified into five categories according to their staining intensity and morphological features using a trained multilayer neural network combined with Fisher's linear discriminant preprocessing. The proposed method is tested on a large dataset containing several breast tissue images with different levels of malignancy. The experimental results show high agreement between the results of the method and ground-truth from the pathologist panel. Furthermore, a comparative study versus existing techniques is presented in order to demonstrate the efficiency and the superiority of the proposed method.     

Influence of natural weathering on colour stability of materials used for facial prosthesis

Colour stability of resin and silicone is an important factor for longevity of facial prostheses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the colour stability of resins and silicone for facial prostheses. Three brands of acrylic resin and one of facial silicone were evaluated considering pigment incorporation for the colourless materials. Ten samples of each material were fabricated and submitted to measurements of chromatic alteration initially and after 90 and 180 days of weathering natural through visual analysis and spectrophotometry. Data were evaluated by ANOVA and Tukey test (p < 0.05). Statistically significant colour alteration was observed among some materials regardless of the period. The materials did not present a statistical difference between 90 and 180 days except for the pigmented heat-polymerized resin. The colour difference between pigmented Silastic MDX4-4210 and colourless Silastic was statistically significant (p < 0.01) in both periods as well as between pigmented and colourless heat-polymerized resin, and between the resins Rapidaflex and Lentaflex. The visual method demonstrated colour alteration in all materials evaluated during the first 90 days of ageing. All materials exhibited colour alteration due to exposure to environment.     

Selection of pulse oximetry equipment for ambulatory monitoring

Primary objective : This communication describes the initial stage of a research project concerning the monitoring of SpO₂ in infants prone to periods of spontaneous oxygen desaturation whilst freely moving around their home environment. The primary aim was to determine an appropriate probe type and site together with an assessment of the suitability of two commercially available oximeter units. Research design : The study comprised 19 comparative tests, totalling 162 hours of recordings at resolution one sample every four seconds. Comparisons are drawn between probes, probe sites and pulse oximeters. Main outcomes/ results : The bias and precision is presented with respect to the probe and measurement site. Also, correlation between the trial and reference recordings is considered. Conclusions : It is concluded that ambulatory recording of SpO₂ in infants utilizing equipment suitable for home monitoring can produce diagnostic data equivalent to that of the Ohmeda 3700 biox, but that an indication of movement artefact may be required for confirmation of accuracy. It became apparent that 'wrap around' probes, used on the index finger or big toe are the most suitable.