Reference standard for the evaluation of automatic segmentation algorithms: Quantification of inter observer variability of manual delineation of prostate contour on MRI.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between inter-reader variability in manual prostate contour segmentation on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations and determine the optimal number of readers required to establish a reliable reference standard.

Materials And Methods: Seven radiologists with various experiences independently performed manual segmentation of the prostate contour (whole-gland [WG] and transition zone [TZ]) on 40 prostate MRI examinations obtained in 40 patients. Inter-reader variability in prostate contour delineations was estimated using standard metrics (Dice similarity coefficient [DSC], Hausdorff distance and volume-based metrics).

Assessment of gastrointestinal function and its' effect on bone mineral density and body composition in hypermobility spectrum disorder and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Background: Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) are associated with hypermobility, musculoskeletal pain, a decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and gastrointestinal (GI) complications. The role of GI symptoms and diet in BMD has not been established in this population. The GI complications can lead to an energy deficit due to lack of essential macronutrients.

Prostate volume prediction on MRI: tools, accuracy and variability.

Objective: A reliable estimation of prostate volume (PV) is essential to prostate cancer management. The objective of our multi-rater study was to compare intra- and inter-rater variability of PV from manual planimetry and ellipsoid formulas.

Methods: Forty treatment-naive patients who underwent prostate MRI were selected from a local database.

Challenge of prostate MRI segmentation on T2-weighted images: inter-observer variability and impact of prostate morphology.

Background: Accurate prostate zonal segmentation on magnetic resonance images (MRI) is a critical prerequisite for automated prostate cancer detection. We aimed to assess the variability of manual prostate zonal segmentation by radiologists on T2-weighted (T2W) images, and to study factors that may influence it.

Methods: Seven radiologists of varying levels of experience segmented the whole prostate gland (WG) and the transition zone (TZ) on 40 axial T2W prostate MRI images (3D T2W images for all patients, and both 3D and 2D images for a subgroup of 12 patients).