Invitation to medical image processing

This medical essay explains the present state of CT image processing technology about its recognition, acquisition and visualization for computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) and surgery (CAS), and future view. Medical image processing has a series of history of its original start from the discovery of X-ray to its application to diagnostic radiography, its combination with the computer for CT, multi-detector raw CT, leading to 3D/4D images for CAD and CAS. CAD is performed based on the recognition of normal anatomical structure of human body, detection of possible abnormal lesion and visualization of its numerical figure into image. Actual instances of CAD images are presented here for chest (lung cancer), abdomen (colorectal cancer) and future body atlas (models of organs and diseases for imaging), a recent national project: computer anatomy. CAS involves the surgical planning technology based on 3D images, navigation of the actual procedure and of endoscopy. As guidance to beginning technological image processing, described are the national and international community like related academic societies, regularly conducting congresses, textbooks and workshops, and topics in the field like computed anatomy of an individual patient for CAD and CAS, its data security and standardization. In future, protective medicine is in authors' view based on the imaging technology, e.g., daily life CAD of individuals ultimately, as exemplified in the present body thermometer and home sphygmometer, to monitor one's routine physical conditions. (T.T.)