Scott Craig Goodwin MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yao Shieh PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

A computer application for the precise measurement of fibroid sizes and diameters in support of pre-UAE assessment and post-UAE follow-up is very useful in unburdening radiologists from tedious task and in providing a visual demonstration of the progress over time to gynecologists and the patient. This application enables us to move closer toward making radiology a quantitative science.

Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE) originated from pioneering work by Dr. Scott Goodwin has emerged as a treatment option for excessive bleeding and pain arising from uterine fibroid. During the pre-procedure assessment, quantitative measurements in terms of size, the ratios of the stalk as well as the pedicle w.r.t. the diameter of the fibroid and the number of fibroids are very important factors to be considered. During the post-procedure follow-up, the shrinkage of fibroids in size has been widely used as benchmarks for UAE efficacy.

A semi-automatic computer application for the purpose of extracting 3D fibroid mass from MR imaging has been developed. The user is required to roughly outline the 2D region of a fibroid on any arbitrary slice. The application will refine the outline into a precise boundary on that particular slice and automatically extend to adjacent slices indefinitely to extract the 3D fibroid mass. Subsequently, its precise volume and diameter can be calculated. Finding the absolute maximum dimension of a fibroid along an arbitrary direction is more accurate than using the maximum dimensions in only coronal, sagittal and transverse directions. This computer application is very robust in extracting the 3D fibroid mass successfully and accurately. Post-procedure follow-up is accomplished by time series analysis of the fibroid’s size change over time.

The developed computer application is intended to be used by MR technologists who are expected to be able to identify uterine fibroids after reasonable training. The radiologist can be unburdened from the tedious task. Furthermore, the determination of the fibroid’s volume and diameter by the computer application based on 3D dataset is more accurate than human estimation.

Goodwin, S, Shieh, Y, A Computer Application of Quantitative Assessment and Follow-up for Uterine Artery Embolization.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8016697.html