Slice simulation from a model of the parenchymous vascularization to evaluate texture features -: Work in progress

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. TO demonstrate the usefulness of a model of the parenchymous vascularization to evaluate texture analysis methods, METHODS. Slices with thickness varying from 1 to 4 mm were reformatted from a 3D vascular model corresponding to either normal tissue perfusion or local hypervascularization. Parameters of statistical methods were measured on 16 128 x 128 regions of interest, and mean values and standard deviation were calculated. For each parameter, the performances (discrimination power and stability) were evaluated, RESULTS. Among II calculated statistical parameters, three (homogeneity, entropy, mean of gradients) were found to have a good discriminating power to differentiate normal perfusion from hypervascularization, but only the gradient mean was found to have a good stability with respect to the thickness, Five parameters (run percentage, run length distribution, long run emphasis, contrast, and gray level distribution) were found to have intermediate results, In the remaining three, curtosis and correlation was found to have little discrimination power, skewness none. CONCLUSION. This 3D vascular model, which allows the generation of various examples of vascular textures, is a powerful tool to assess the performance of texture analysis methods, This improves our knowledge of the methods and should contribute to their a priori choice when designing clinical studies.