Detection of Calcified Granulomas

Purpose	Detect calcified granulomas in lung parenchyma and abdominal solid organs as well as calcified lymph nodes.
Tag(s)
Panel	Thoracic Panel
Define-AI ID	19080008
Originator	External Use Case Submitter, University of British Columbia
Lead	External Use Case Submitter, University of British Columbia
Panel Chair	Eric Stern
Panel Reviewers	Thoracic Panel
License	Creative Commons 4.0
Status	Public Commenting

                               

Value Proposition

An algorithm that could detect and characterize granulomas would help clinicians recommend further testing, if necessary, and improve patient care. This could help obviate additional imaging if an algorithm could help concretely determine a nodule is a benign calcification.

There are multiple ways to effectively utilize this algorithm for improvements in patient care. For instance, the algorithm could assess prior imaging to determine which patients have latent TB infection/prior TB exposure. This could help groups involved with immigration screening. The algorithm may also prove useful in settings where patients may require future immunomodulatory drugs such as chemo, monoclonal antibodies or HAART and are vulnerable to reactivation.

Narrative(s)

Patient present with lung nodule. Algorithm suggests the nodule is calcified granuloma as a result from a prior infection of TB. Radiologist confirms this interpretation from the pattern of the calcification and clinical background.

Workflow Description

The image is obtained from modality and sent to PACS and the AI engine. The image is analyzed by the engine. The system then detects calcified granulomas. An alert message is sent to PACS from the engine with the information, identification, and graphic highlighting the granulomas.

Procedures(s)	Chest, CT
View(s)
Sex at Birth	{Male,Female}
Age	[0,90]
BMI	varied
Diabetes	Present, Absent
Hypertension	Present, Absent
Smoker	Yes, No

 

Inputs

DICOM Study
Procedure	Chest CT
Views	Coronal, sagittal, axial
Data Type	DICOM
Modality	CT
Body Region	Chest
Anatomic Focus	Lung

Primary Outputs

Granulomas in lung parenchyma
RadElement ID	to be defined
Definition	presence of granuloma in lung parenchyma
Data Type	Categorical
Value Set	0- Granuloma absent in lung parenchyma 1- Granuloma present in lung parenchyma 2- Unknown
Units	N/A

Granuloma in lymph nodes
RadElement ID	to be defined
Definition	presence of granuloma in lymph node
Data Type	Categorical
Value Set	0- Granuloma absent in lymph nodes 1- Granuloma present in lymph nodes
Units	N/A

Secondary Outputs

Prior TB exposure
RadElement ID
Definition	granuloma consistent with prior TB exposure
Data Type	Categorical
Value Set	0- No granuloma consistent with TB exposure 1- Present granuloma, consistent with TB exposure 2- Unknown
Units	N/A

Granuloma segmentation
RadElement ID
Definition	segment the detect granuloma(s)
Data Type	Coordinate
Value Set	N/A
Units	N/A

Count of granulomas
RadElement ID
Definition	number of granulomas present
Data Type	Numeric
Value Set	N/A
Units	granulomas