Medical feature based evaluation of structuring elements for morphological enhancement of ultrasonic images

This paper investigates the use of morphology-based nonlinear filters, and performs deterministic and statistical analysis of the linear combinations of the filters for the image quality enhancement of B-mode ultrasound images. The fact that the structuring element shape greatly influences the output of the filter, is one of the most important features of mathematical morphology. The present reported work comparatively evaluates the structuring elements for morphological liver image enhancement and verifies the hypothesis that the speckles visible in US images are short, slightly 'banana-shaped' white lines. Initially, five different liver images were morphologically filtered using 10 different structuring elements and then the filtered images were assessed quantitatively. Image quality parameters such as peak signal-to-noise ratio, mean square error and correlation coefficient have been used to evaluate the performance of the morphological filters with different structuring elements. To endorse the observation of the quantitative analysis, the filtered images were then evaluated qualitatively, based on the image features looked into by the medical fraternity. The evaluation parameters have been taken on the basis of the suggestions made by a group of radiologists. The results of the processed images were then evaluated by a different group of radiologists. A multi-point rank order method has been used to identify small differences or trends in observation. The subjective analysis by radiologists indicates that morphological filter using line shaped structuring element with length 2 performs better than the other structuring elements. These observations were found to be in line with the observations of quantitative analysis.

Three years experience of infantile Wilms tumour at a single institute in a developing country

20028

Background: Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma) is the second most common malignant retroperitoneal tumor. It is the most common primary renal tumour of childhood and is a paradigm for multimodal treatment of a pediatric malignant solid tumor. The median age at diagnosis is 4 years and it is uncommon in infancy. We present a three year retrospective analysis of Wilms tumor in infants treated at out institute. Methods: A total of 16 cases of Wilms tumor were diagnosed in pediatric patients aged one and below between January 2003 to December 2005. Out of these, 11 patients were evaluable. All of them were given treatment as per the National Wilms Tumor Study- 5 protocol. Results: The median age of presentation was 10.8 months, one child was 5 months old rest all were between 10 and 12 months. The male to female ratio was 2.3:1. The most common presenting complaint was mass per abdomen, which was seen in 10 patients, one patient presented with pain in abdomen and hematuria. None of the patients had evidence of any other systemic involvement. 7 patients were in Stage I, 2 each were in stage II and stage III. Triphasic classical type (favorable) was the histopathological subtype in 9 patients and 2 had unfavorable histopathological subtypes. All the 10 cases underwent total Nephrectomy [three at our institute and the rest elsewhere] of the diseased kidney followed by treatment as per the National Wilms Tumor Study- 5 protocol with 50% dose reduction. 7 cases (70%) showed complete remission and presently are under observation. Three cases were lost to follow up after surgery. One patient with stage three disease was given anterior chemotherapy but was lost to follow up after 9 weeks of chemotherapy. Conclusion: Wilms tumor presenting in infancy when treated appropriately has a good outcome although not as good as in older children.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Results of cisplatin-based chemotherapy in inoperable hepatoblastoma during last two years at a single institute

20027

Background: Total surgical excision and adjunctive chemotherapy are cornerstones of treatment of hepatoblastoma in children. But many are unsuitable for radical surgery at diagnosis due to extensive intrahepatic and/or extra hepatic disease. We assessed 18 consecutive cases during the last two years, all of whom presented with unresectable tumor, treated in our center with neoadjuvant chemotherapy,in order to analyze the clinical profile and response to treatment. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who presented to our institute during January 2004 to January 2006 was carried out. All patients were biopsy proven hepatoblastoma. One patient was operated without anterior chemotherapy outside our institute .Two patients had lung metastasis. Rest all had stage 3 disease. All the patients were given cisplatin [90 mg/m2] and continuous infusion doxorubicin [80 mg/m2 over 4 days]. The response to therapy was assessed. Results: Mean age of presentation was 3 years and 4 months [range 1 year to 11 year]. M:F ratio was 4:1. Most common presenting complaint was an asymptomatic abdominal mass felt by the parent. All the patients had tumour in right lobe. Mean alpha fetoprotein level was 0.14 million and the range was from normal to 1.24 million. None of the patients were positive for hepatits B or hepatitis C. After three cycles of chemotherapy, seven of the seventeen patients had adequate down staging of the disease so as to undergo successful resection. There was one post operative mortality. All of them completed total of six cycles of chemotherapy. Ten patients had unresectable tumour even after six cycles of chemotherapy. All of them had reduction in the size of primary tumor and decreased alpha fetoprotein level .There was no chemotherapy related grade 3 or grade 4 toxicity. Conclusions: Hepatoblastoma occurs at a later age in Indian patients as compared to that seen in western countries. Cisplatin and adriamycin are quite effective in downstaging hepatoblastoma. Since these agents are cheap and have minimal toxicity they should be used frequently.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Results of BFM 90 protocol at a single institute in a developing country: Three years experience

17524

Background: In a developing country the affordability status of a patient is the main factor in deciding the type of treatment a patient will receive. Majority of patients [>95%] at our institute have received MCP 841 protocol for acute lymphoblastic lymphoma .We have reviewed the treatment results of patients who had received chemotherapy as per the BFM 90 protocol over last 3 years. Methods: 18 patients (15 males and 3 females) with ALL who had received BFM 90 protocol as therapy during the period between January 2003 to January 2006 were analysed. 15 were of the pediatric age group (2–13 years) and 3 were adult patients (31 & 42 years). Median follow up period was 1 year 9 months. 5 patients were considered as high risk, 4 medium risk and the rest as standard risk. All patients were ph chromosome negative. Results: All paediatric patients are in CR. One patient had CNS relapse but he responded well to reinduction and is in CR. Three patients developed grade 4 toxicity after high dose methotrexate. The rest tolerated it well, however, leucoverin rescue had to be given empirically as methotrxeate level measurement was not available at that time. Two patients turned HCV positive during the course of treatment and had altered liver enzymes due to which maintenance treatment was interrupted. There were three instances of catheter removal and one port had to be removed due to infection. Both the adult patients had bone marrow relapse during treatment [one during maintenance and the other during reinduction] and could not be salvaged. Conclusions: BFM 90 protocol is a viable alternative to MCP 841 in developing countries where high dose methotrexate is given with empirical leucoverin rescue. High rates of catheter infection is of concern. Better patient education and improved techniques will probably improve the situation.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.