Defining scan image volumes of interest with reference to anatomical features

摘要

A system and method is described for dividing a medical scan into regions to which features of interest may be assigned. Initial region boundaries are updated with reference to anatomical landmarks and are presented to the physician along with the scan so that it is immediately apparent which region a feature lies in. The landmarks can be found manually, or automatically using an image atlas. The landmarks or anatomical features may be derived from an MRI, CT or ultrasound scan and features of interest shown by a PET or SPECT scan within the volume boundaries to aid location classification of the features of interest. The system can be used to label affected lymph nodes with their station number according to the standard AJCC1997.