Validation of Segmented Brain Tumor from MRI Images Using 3D Printingthe

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Radiology

Background:

• Early brain tumor diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment.
• Manual segmentation of tumors from volumetric data is time-consuming and challenging.
• Accurate tumor visualization aids treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a user-guided brain tumor segmentation method using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
• To validate the accuracy of the segmentation technique through 3D printing and physical measurement.
• To improve tumor quantification and radiotherapy delineation.

Main Methods:

• User-guided segmentation of brain tumors from MRI using the Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK).
• 3D printing of the segmented tumor volume for physical object creation.
• Measurement comparison between 3D digital model and 3D printed object using electronic calipers.

Main Results:

• The developed technique achieved consistent measurements between digital and 3D printed tumor models.
• Statistical analysis (paired t-test) confirmed the accuracy of the segmentation.
• Observer opinion corroborated the high accuracy of the segmentation method.

Conclusions:

• The 3D printing-based measurement validation confirms the accuracy of the user-guided segmentation technique.
• This method offers a reliable approach for precise tumor volume delineation in radiotherapy.
• Accurate segmentation and quantification are vital for optimizing cancer treatment strategies.