Patient volume segmentation apparatus and method
By one approach, a control circuit accesses planning computed tomography image information for a particular patient. The control circuit also accesses two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information for the particular patient. The control circuit then fuses the planning computed tomography image information with the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information to provide fused image information of the patient target volume.
1 . A method to facilitate segmenting a patient target volume in support of radiation treatment planning, the method comprising:
by a control circuit:
accessing planning computed tomography image information for a particular patient;
accessing two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information for the particular patient;
fusing the planning computed tomography image information with the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information to provide fused image information of the patient target volume.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the patient target volume comprises, at least in part, an arteriovenous malformation.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the planning computed tomography image information comprises, at least in part, segmented three-dimensional contours from corresponding computed tomography image information and wherein fusing the planning computed tomography image information with the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information comprises, at least in part, projecting the segmented three-dimensional contours into two-dimensional contours on the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
generating the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information as a function of at least two x-ray images.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the at least two x-ray images include two images that are at least substantially orthogonal to one another.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information for the particular patient includes at least one closed two-dimensional contour surrounding an image of the patient target volume on each of at least two two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography images.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein fusing the planning computed tomography image information with the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information comprises, at least in part, and for each image pair of x-ray and planning computed tomography images, effecting a registration therebetween.
8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
simultaneously presenting on an interactive user display:
at least two digital subtraction angiography images that each include pre-delineated two-dimensional guide structures that correspond to the patient target volume and at least one pipeline projection;
at least three three-dimensional planning computed tomography images.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least three three-dimensional planning computed tomography images include an axial image, a sagittal image, and a coronal image.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least three three-dimensional planning computed tomography images each include a three-dimensional guide box that is reconstructed from two-dimensional guide contours from at least two of the digital subtraction angiography images.
11 . An apparatus to facilitate segmenting a patient target volume in support of radiation treatment planning, the apparatus comprising:
a control circuit configured to:
access planning computed tomography image information for a particular patient;
access two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information for the particular patient;
fuse the planning computed tomography image information with the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information to provide fused image information of the patient target volume.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the patient target volume comprises, at least in part, an arteriovenous malformation.
13 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the planning computed tomography image information comprises, at least in part, segmented three-dimensional contours from corresponding computed tomography image information and wherein the control circuit is configured to fuse the planning computed tomography image information with the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information by, at least in part, projecting the segmented three-dimensional contours into two-dimensional contours on the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information.
14 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control circuit is further configured to: generate the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information as a function of at least two x-ray images.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least two x-ray images include two images that are at least substantially orthogonal to one another.
16 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information for the particular patient includes at least one closed two-dimensional contour surrounding an image of the patient target volume on each of at least two two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography images.
17 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control circuit is configured to fuse the planning computed tomography image information with the two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography image information by, at least in part, and for each image pair of x-ray and planning computed tomography images, effecting a registration therebetween.
18 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
simultaneously present on an interactive user display:
at least two digital subtraction angiography images that each include pre-delineated two-dimensional guide structures that correspond to the patient target volume and at least one pipeline projection;
at least three three-dimensional planning computed tomography images.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the at least three three-dimensional planning computed tomography images include an axial image, a sagittal image, and a coronal image.
20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the at least three three-dimensional planning computed tomography images each include a three-dimensional guide box that is reconstructed from two-dimensional guide contours from at least two of the digital subtraction angiography images.