Measuring the exact size of a tumor or the precise distance between two anatomical landmarks in a medical image is now a reality, thanks to the latest addition to our radiology labeling editor: real-world coordinates.
Measure With Precision
Measuring with precision is a complicated task. Pixel-based measurements in CT scans often lacked precision, making it difficult to consistently determine the size of elements in millimeters or compare findings across studies. Translating these pixel-based measurements to real-world units required cumbersome manual conversions and approximations, which could lead to errors and inefficiencies. Traditional methods often result in inconsistencies, making it challenging to ensure accuracy and consistency when evaluating medical images.
Introducing: Real-World Coordinates
Our new feature in the Ango Hub radiology labeling editor eliminates this pain point and transforms how annotators measure medical images. By integrating real-world coordinates measured in millimeters, we have introduced a tool that brings a new level of precision directly into the labeling workflow. Now, when you hover your cursor over a voxel in the image, the data probe displays its precise location in three-dimensional space. This means:
1. No More Guesswork:
Real-world coordinates eliminate the need for approximations and estimations of the size of objects in scans. Each voxel in the image can now be measured with millimeter-level accuracy, providing reliable data for your analysis.
2. Flawless Filtering:
Need to annotate only specific elements exceeding a certain size? Easily filter based on real-world dimensions for a streamlined workflow. Imagine a project that requires annotations for all lesions larger than 5 millimeters – with real-world coordinates, you can simply set that filter and focus on the relevant structures.
Benefits of this Streamlined Workflow
The integration of real-world coordinates offers a multitude of advantages beyond mere precision, enhancing data accuracy, facilitating integration, improving decision-making, and supporting collaboration. This innovative feature:
- Simplifies Calculations: 3D calculations become effortless, allowing for accurate measurements of distances, volumes, and angles.
- Enhances Workflow: The intuitive interface makes it easy to measure objects of interest, saving you valuable time and effort.
- Boosts Confidence: By providing reliable measurements, real-world coordinates empower clinicians and researchers to make informed decisions with greater confidence.
Real-World Applications for Real-World Impact
The integration of real-world coordinates has already revolutionized workflows across various applications:
- Tumor Measurement: Accurately assess tumor size for precise staging and treatment planning.
- Kidney Stones: To identify kidney stones in CT scans and measure their diameter. The location of the stones in the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra and their size are critical factors in determining severity and treatment.
- Organ Volume Calculation: Precisely measure organ volumes like the liver to evaluate the function and detect abnormalities.
- Anatomical Landmark Identification: Locate specific anatomical landmarks with pinpoint accuracy for various medical procedures.
- Bone Fractures: The location and length of bone fractures.
- Ligamentous Injuries: Determining the size and extent of damage or tears to a ligament.
- Foreign Objects: Measuring and assessing foreign objects that may have entered the body such as glass, metal, and stones, and their location in context to the distance to other organs.
- Vascular Abnormalities: Measure the diameter and length of blood vessels to identify issues like aneurysms, stenosis, or other vascular malformations that can impact blood flow.
- Spinal Measurements: Assess the height and alignment of vertebrae, as well as the dimensions of intervertebral discs, crucial for diagnosing conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
- Joint Space Narrowing: Measure the width of joint spaces in conditions such as osteoarthritis to evaluate the extent of degeneration and guide treatment options.
- Dental Measurements: In dental X-rays, measure the size and depth of cavities or periodontal pockets to guide treatment decisions.
Why CT-Scans are Measured in Millimeters Instead of Pixels?
In radiology, various types of imaging scans use millimeters (mm) instead of pixels to provide accurate physical measurements of anatomical structures. Millimeters are widely used for reporting measurements from scans or radiology imaging, ensuring consistency and clarity in interpreting results. This practice is clinically important because it helps provide accurate diagnoses and supports effective treatment planning.
Here are the main types of scans where millimeters are commonly used:
- Ultrasound
- CT Scans (Computed Tomography)
- MRI Scans (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- X-rays (with certain digital systems)
- PET Scans (Positron Emission Tomography)
- Mammography
Doctors measure anatomical structures in radiology scans using centimeters (CM) or millimeters (MM) as it is a standard practice in the medical field. Measuring lesions or anatomical objects in millimeters is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning, as it helps detect small changes in tissue density and reveals the size, shape, and quantity of anatomical objects.
For example, kidney stones are measured in millimeters to get the most accurate and consistent sizing for determining treatment options and symptom severity. Measuring in pixels would lead to inaccuracies, as pixel size can vary based on scan resolution and device settings, making it difficult to consistently determine the stone’s true size and make informed decisions.
Another example is, that cancerous tumors are measured in millimeters for accurate size assessment. Measuring in pixels can be inconsistent due to varying scan resolutions, which could lead to incorrect treatment decisions. Millimeter-based measurements ensure reliable tracking of tumor growth and treatment planning.
By using real-world coordinates in millimeters, tools like the Ango Hub radiology labeling editor eliminate uncertainties. Each voxel in the scan is assigned precise millimeter values, ensuring consistent and accurate measurements across different scans. This allows medical professionals to evaluate kidney stones or other anatomical structures with confidence, improving patient outcomes and treatment decisions.
Measuring in millimeters provides a standardized, reliable way to describe structures in a real-world context, making it easier for healthcare professionals to interpret findings across different machines and settings.
Conclusion
This feature highlights open-source collaboration, as developers and researchers in the Ango Hub community have come together to create a tool that addresses the evolving needs of the medical imaging field.
Head over to the Ango Hub documentation for a deeper dive into this transformative feature. With real-world coordinates at your fingertips, you can unlock a new level of precision, efficiency, and confidence in your radiology labeling projects.
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