Respiratory and cardiac function analysis on the basis of dynamic chest radiography

Abstract

Dynamic chest radiography with computer analysis is expected to be a new type of functional imaging system. This chapter presents computerized methods for quantifying and visualizing cardiopulmonary function on dynamic chest radiographs. The measurement parameters are diaphragm motion, heart wall motion, pulmonary ventilation, and blood circulation. We will first introduce evaluation items, physiology, and diagnostic findings and then describe image analysis methods for each evaluation item. We pay particular attention to interframe subtraction and mapping technique, which play a critical role in the evaluation of pulmonary ventilation and blood circulation. We also discuss features, future perspectives, and issues related to dynamic chest radiography on the basis of preliminary clinical study.