Development and evaluation of a software tool for the generation of virtual liver lesions in multidetector-row CT datasets.

Rationale And Objectives: Development and evaluation of a software tool for the insertion of simulated hypodense liver lesions in multidetector-row computed tomography (CT) datasets.

Materials And Methods: Forty software-generated hypodense liver lesions were inserted at random locations in 20 CT datasets by using the "alpha blending" technique and compared with 40 real metastatic lesions. The location, diameter (5-20 mm) and density of the simulated lesions were individually adjusted to closely resemble real lesions in each patient.