Implementing a Combined Lesion Measurement Tool in Hybrid PET Imaging to Reduce Clicks in Routine Clinical Practice:...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Software Development

Background:

• Clinical hybrid imaging workflows, particularly positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), involve complex interpretation.
• Current methods may require multiple tools for morphologic and functional measurements, potentially impacting efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integrated tool for hybrid imaging that combines morphologic and functional measurements.
• To quantify the efficiency gains, specifically the number of clicks saved per PET/CT interpretation.

Main Methods:

• A novel tool was developed, automatically creating a volume of interest (VOI) around line distance measurements.
• The tool generates and displays VOI statistics for both PET and CT components, along with line distances.
• Usage data from the first two months of implementation were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Eleven physicians utilized the tool in 364 PET/CT examinations.
• The novel tool was the sole tool required in 19% of cases.
• An average of 16.5 clicks were saved per PET/CT examination, indicating improved workflow efficiency.

Conclusions:

• A new combined measurement tool for hybrid imaging was successfully implemented.
• The tool significantly streamlines the PET/CT interpretation process, saving clicks and improving workflow.
• Thoughtful software design positively impacts medical practice efficiency.