Multiparametric MRI improves image detail and prostate cancer detection rates compared to standard MRI. Computer aided diagnostics (CAD) used in combination with multiparametric MRI images may further improve prostate cancer detection and visualization. The technology, developed by researchers at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (NIHCC), is an automated CAD system for use in processing and visualizing prostate lesions on multiparametric MRI images. The system uses specialized algorithms (an ensemble of multiple random decision tress, Random Forest) that is trained against: 1) hand drawn contours, 2) recorded biopsy results, and 3) normal cases from randomly sampled patient images weighted for lesion size. This CAD system produces a more accurate probability map of potential cancerous lesions in multiparametric MRI images.
In addition, the CAD system may be used in several applications and settings including, but not limited to: 1) cloud-based prostate cancer screening, 2) use in under-resourced clinical settings with few or underexperienced radiologists, 3) integration into a work station or a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), 4) or serve as standalone software to be used on existing systems. This technology is currently available for licensing and co-development partnerships.