Method of Determining the Probabilities of Suspect Nodules Being Malignant

摘要

Methods of determining a probability of a suspect cancer nodule being malignant are provided. In one embodiment, the method begins with tabulating histogram data of malignant and benign nodules as a function of biomarker values for a specified patient population suspect of having a specific type of cancer. Next, the tabulated histogram data is separated into a plurality of biomarker bins where the bins are ranges of biomarker values, and malignancy probability fractions are calculated for each biomarker bin by dividing a number of true positives in each marker bin by a summed total of all true and false positives in each bin. Finally, a suspect nodule in a patient is scanned, a biomarker value for the suspect nodule determined, and a malignancy probability for the suspect nodule determined by reference to the tabulated histogram data and the malignancy probability fractions. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
tabulating histogram data of malignant and benign nodules as a function of biomarker values for a specified patient population suspect of having a specific type of cancer, where biomarker values comprise mean image data values; separating tabulated histogram data into a plurality of biomarker bins where the bins are ranges of biomarker values; calculating malignancy probability fractions for each biomarker bin by dividing a number of true positives in each marker bin by a summed number of true and false positives in each biomarker bin; scanning a suspect nodule in a patient, and determining a characteristic biomarker value for the suspect nodule; and determining from the tabulated histogram data, the malignancy probability for the suspect nodule.