Texture analysis software: integration with a radiological workstation.

Abstract : Image analysis is the daily task of radiologists. The texture of a structure or imaging finding can be more difficult to describe than other parameters. Image processing can help the radiologist in completing this difficult task. The aim of this article is to explain how we have developed texture analysis software and integrated it into a standard radiological workstation. The texture analysis method has been divided into three steps: definition of primitive elements, counting, and statistical analysis. The software was developed in C++ and integrated into a Siemens workstation with a graphical user interface. The results of analyses may be exported in Excel format. The software allows users to perform texture analyses on any type of radiological image without the need for image transfer by simply placing a region of interest. This tool has already been used to assess the trabecular network of vertebra. The integration of such software into PACS extends the applicability of texture analysis beyond that of a mere research tool and facilitates its use in routine clinical practice.