A distributed, object-oriented framework for medical image management and analysis: application to evaluation of medical image segmentation techniques

A distributed framework for medical image management and analysis is described. Individual program modules interact over the network, creating and accessing a set of structural information resources that includes images, anatomic shape models, anatomic names, and contours which are the output of a knowledge-based segmentation program. Program modules are described that automatically evaluate the segmenter on large number of images, thereby allowing more robust testing of segmentation techniques than is currently possible in manual evaluations. It is suggested these kinds of programs will not only improve the evaluation of segmentation techniques, but will also enhance the overall utility of medical Picture Archiving and Communication Systems