Pulmonary CT image analysis and computer aided detection

This short article summarizes the use of current CT image data for a comprehensive assessment of pulmonary structure and function. It identifies the need for the development of highly automated methods and techniques allowing quantitative analysis of lungs, lung lobes, airway trees, and pulmonary parenchyma. Such analyses serve as the stepping stones for more sophisticated computer-aided detection approaches capable of parenchymal tissue characterization and identification of pulmonary nodules, some of which are discussed.