Robert Sadleir won prize at Association of Physical Scientists in Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting 2004

Robert Sadleir

Robert Sadleir, School of Electronic Engineering, won The best presentation prize at the Association of Physical Scientists in Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting 2004 for his paper entitled `Automatic detection of colorectal polyps at CT colonography using shape information' which discussed computer aided detection of polyps as an emerging area in CT colonography (CTC) research. CTC research is the non-invasive procedure used to detect colon cancer. The procedure creates a virtual colon through various scanning procedures which allow examination to take place using computer vision techniques.

The two computer aided techniques discussed were surface normal analysis and surface curvature analysis, with surface curvature analysis offeing slightly higher detection. Varying sizes of polyps were used in the test cases and the main outcome from the study is that automated polyp detection is approaching the sensitivity required for routine clinical use.

The conclusion of the research was that computer aided detection of polyps using shape based techniques is feasible and it is hoped that future development of this research will lead to a higher detection rate of colon cancer where there is a family history of cancer.

The work was carried out in conjunction with our colleagues in the Department of Radiology and Gastrointestinal Unit in the Mater Hospital and has been funded by the Irish Cancer Society, the Health Research Board and the Science Foundation Ireland.