- Validation of a New Image-Based Approach for the Accurate Estimating of the Growth Rate of Detected Lung Nodules Using Real Computed Tomography Images and Elastic Phantoms Generated by State-of-the-Art Microfluidics Technology

One of the most promising techniques for detecting small cancerous nodules relies on characterizing the nodule based on estimating its growth rate over time. The growth rate is estimated by measuring the volumetric change of the detected lung nodules over time. Until now, there has been no accurate approach in the literature to validate proposed techniques for measuring the growth rate of the detected lung nodules. Thus, the objective of this chapter is to present a new way for validating our approach for measuring the growth rate of the detected lung nodules using elastic lung phantoms. They are constructed using state-of-the-art micro¸uidics technology in order to mimic the contractions and expansions of the lung and nodules seen during normal breathing. In addition, we validate our approach using in vivo data that have been collected from four subjects.