Bradley J. Erickson MD, PhD, Presenter: Stockholder, Evidentia Health, Inc

1) Become familiar with the quantitative imaging tools that are available for clinical and research uses. 2) Become familiar with the clinical and research problems that are being addressed by quantitative imaging. 3) Become familiar with the clinical and research problems that might be addressed by quantitative imaging in the near future and how to prepare one’s practice for these uses.

Quantitative imaging is more than just the measurement of structures in images. It is a new way of approaching diagnosis and therapy assessment. While simple linear measurements might qualify as quantitative imaging, it is important to think of QI in a much broader context. In addition to measuring spatial quantities like length, area, and volume, one can measure image values on functional imaging, which might represent a physiologic value. One can measure textures and edge properties, potentially replacing the ‘it just looks like it’ answer to why an expert can diagnose a certain disease. Measuring change can also be more than just spatial. Spatial change detection is important, of course, and doing it well is a critical component of QI. Measuring change in non-spatial properties is likely to become more important in the future. Finally, while some might believe that genomics will largely replace imaging, there is currently much interest in the use of imaging to provide pervasive and non-destructive prediction of genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic properties that are likely to be of great value to patient care.

Erickson, B, Clinical and Research Needs for Quantitative Imaging Informatics Tools.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/12020953.html