Computer-based image analysis of prostate cancer: comments with emphasis on use of commercially available systems

This review is concerned with computer-based image analysis (CBIA) in prostate cancer. The emphasis is placed on evaluating extent and grade of prostate cancer. The quest for reproducibility in these evaluations has provided an important area of possible application for CBIA studies. Commercially available CBIA systems allow an opportunity for increased efforts in studying the merits of CBIA in prostate cancer. Many CBIA systems with various capabilities are currently on the market. They can be described as either "general" or "dedicated" CBIA systems and are exemplified by two systems: the Werner Frei Imlab/Imtool (Werner Frei Associates, Venice, CA) and the CAS 200 (Cell Analysis Systems, Inc, Lombard, IL), respectively. "General" systems are composed of individual components with data being stored and analyzed using a personal computer (Werner Frei Imlab/Imtool). "Dedicated" systems are integrated systems, usually with little variability of either software or hardware specifications (CAS 200). It is helpful to be cognizant of the contrasting abilities provided by these two systems when evaluating which CBIA system would be most appropriate for a particular application in the study of prostate cancer.