Updating reference imaging data with update 2D and/or 3D imaging data

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining reference imaging data, wherein the reference imaging data is acquired at a first time and includes tissue of interest, wherein the reference imaging data includes one of computed tomography, magnetic resonance, single photon emission computed tomography, or positron emission tomography imaging data;

obtaining update imaging data, wherein the update imaging data is acquired at a second time, wherein the second time is subsequent to the first time and includes ultrasound imaging data;

identifying a difference between the reference imaging data and the update imaging data;

changing the reference imaging data based on the identified difference; and

displaying the changed reference imaging data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference imaging data includes one of 2D or 3D imaging data.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the update imaging data includes one of 2D or 3D imaging data.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

driving the change to the reference imaging with the update imaging data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change includes adding at least one of structural information or functional information to the reference imaging data.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one of structural information or functional information is present in the update imaging data and absent from the reference imaging data.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change includes removing at least one of structural information or functional information from the reference imaging data.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one of structural information or functional information is absent from the update imaging data and present in the reference imaging data.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference imaging data includes 3D imaging data covering a first volume and the update imaging data include a plurality of successively acquired 2D slices or 3D imaging data covering a second volume, wherein the second volume is a subset of the first volume, and, further comprising:

successively changing the reference imaging data over time as the update imaging data becomes available.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

changing the reference imaging data at least one of commencement of a procedure or during the procedure.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

dynamically changing the reference imaging data with currently acquired update imaging as the currently acquired update imaging becomes available.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the difference is indicative of a change in a size of the tissue of interest.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the difference is indicative of a change in a location of the tissue of interest.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the difference is indicative of a new tissue of interest.

15. A computing system configured to modify previously acquired reference imaging data based on currently acquired update ultrasound imaging data, comprising:

a memory including a reference image data update module with computer executable instructions; and

a processor that executes the computer executable instructions, which causes the processor to: register the previously acquired reference imaging data and the currently acquired update ultrasound imaging data, identify at least one of structural information or functional information that is included in one of the previously acquired reference imaging data or the currently acquired update ultrasound imaging data but not the other of the previously acquired reference imaging data or the currently acquired update ultrasound imaging data, modify the previously acquired reference imaging data to one of include or exclude the at least one of the structural information or the functional information, and builds or removes the at least one of the structural information or the functional information over time as current update imaging data becomes available.

16. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the processor modifies the previously acquired reference imaging data using a wire frame mesh.

17. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the update ultrasound imaging data arrives as successive 2D slices or thin 3D volumes and building or removing the at least one of the structural information or the functional information over time includes successively registering sub-portions of the previously acquired reference imaging data with the update ultrasound imaging data as the update ultrasound imaging data becomes available.

18. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the processor automatically, without user interaction, modifies the previously acquired reference imaging data.

19. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the processor modifies the previously acquired reference imaging data in response to a signal indicative of a user input accepting the modification.

20. A computer readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

register update ultrasound imaging data with a sub-portion of reference imaging data;

compare the registered update ultrasound imaging data and the sub-portion of reference imaging data;

determine the update ultrasound imaging data either includes information not in the sub-portion or does not include information in the sub-portion;

add the information to the sub-portion in response to the information being in the update ultrasound imaging data and not in the sub-portion;

subtract the information from the sub-portion in response to the information not being in the update ultrasound imaging data and being in the sub-portion; and

visually presenting the reference imaging data with the added or subtracted information.