VOI Level Properties

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VOI Level Properties

VOI List

The VOIs section on the List tab contains the list of defined contour VOIs, and VOIs which are in the progress of outlining.

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VOI Properties

VOI properties can be set while creating a New VOI if the Open properties check box is enabled:

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or can be changed using the picture_5138 button. It shows the VOI properties dialog window illustrated below.

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The window allows changing the properties and immediately updates the display for providing a visual feedback. The property elements have the following meaning:

VOI name

Allows assigning a name to the VOI in the list either interactively or from predefined name lists. The List button allows using pre-defined names stored in name lists and is described below.

Static/Dynamic
VOI

This property is only relevant for dynamic series. If a VOI is defined static Button VOI Static, the same VOI definition is applied and shown at all times. If a VOI is defined dynamic Button Dynamic VOI, a different VOI definition can be used at different times. Note that a dynamic VOI is only shown when viewing the images of the time frame it was defined on. As long as only one VOI is defined, statistics calculation will apply this VOI at all times as with a static VOI. However, as soon as VOIs have been defined at more than one time, it is required that VOIs are defined at all times. Here the VOI propagation functionality may be helpful.

Filled/Tape
VOI

Filled VOI Button VOI Full: All pixels enclosed by the contours belong to the VOI.

Tape VOI Button VOI Tape: The contour is interpreted as the center line of a VOI which includes pixels inside a band along the contour. The number of pixels inside and outside can be specified. This type of VOI was introduced for myocardium VOIs.

Full/Sector
VOI

Full VOI Button VOI Full: Uses pixels from all directions.

Sector VOIButton VOI Sector: Only the pixels in a defined angular sector will be considered. The sector angle can be defined in the VOI Action Mode using the handles at the angle corners. This type of VOI was also introduced for myocardium VOIs.

Organ volume
Organ mass


Tracking

Allows defining the role the VOI would have in a module which calculates tracks such as PGEM.

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The role of VOIs in tractography:

SEED: Tractography is started from the pixels in the seed VOIs, following the local vector directions.

END: Only tracks ending in this VOI will be used. To avoid excessive pruning of tracks, an END VOI should have sufficient volume.

WAY: Only tracks passing through the WAY VOI will be used.

EXCLUDE: Tracks passing through an EXCLUDE VOI will be removed.

NEUTRAL: Such VOIs have no impact on tractography. Setting VOIs to NEUTRAL allows assessing the effect of END, WAY and EXCLUDE VOIs without the need of removing them.

Set plus/minus
Contours

The + and - buttons set all contours of the VOI to positive and negative, respectively, see ROI and Contour Level Properties. The main purpose of - is to remove parts of an enclosing VOI. This is done by merging the enclosing (positive) VOI with the enclosed (negative) VOI.

Lock/unlock
VOI

Unlocked clip0049 VOIs can be modified, whereas no changes are allowed for locked clip0050 VOIs.

B-spline

The action buttons allow converting a polygon into a curved b-spline contour, and reverse. clip0053 generates a b-spline which passes throught the original vertexes, whereas clip0052 reduces the vertex number if the vertexes are very dense (e.g. generated by iso-contouring). clip0051 returns the definition to polygon.

Location

X, Y and Z position of the VOI relative to the origin in [mm]. The location can be changed by entering new coordinates or using the incrementing arrow buttons.

Size

Size of the VOI bounding box in mm. The sizes can be changed and result in a proportional scaling in the corresponding direction. The sizes can be edited or incremented by the arrow buttons. Note that for contour VOIs consisting of planar ROIs the scaling is only supported within the ROI planes, not orthogonal to it. Object VOIs can be scaled in all directions.

Rotation

The VOI can be rotated in space. Note that for contour VOIs consisting of planar ROIs rotation is only supported around the axis orthogonal to the ROI plane. Object VOIs can be rotated around all directions. The angles can be numerically specified in degrees, or incremented using the arrow buttons.

The illustration below illustrates the effect of the different properties on the pixels used for VOI statistics.

Sector VOI

Color Definition

Colors are randomly assigned to created VOIs. To change the color, the VOI in the VOIs list, then activate the palette button Button Color Palette and change the color. Note that all contours belonging to a VOI have the same color.

Use of Name List

For consistent VOI naming, the use of name lists is recommended. To use list naming, please select the VOI in the VOIs list, then activate clip0054. It opens the dialog window illustrated below.

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Six lists with pre-defined organ names are available: DICOM, SMALL ANIMAL, and four DOSIMETRY variants. Select the appropriate one in the list selection in the upper left and proceed as follows:

1.Select an organ name from the selected list.

Note: In the SMALL ANIMAL list, organs with trailing >> such as Tumor>> offer a substructure list. Other organs like the Kidneys offer a Laterality choice. Select as appropriate.

1.The VOI name shown in the text entry field is composed from the selections, but can be edited or completely redefined.
CAUTION: An existing VOI with exactly the same name will be overwritten. In this case please add a suffix to differentiate (e.g. CerebellumLeft in the example above)

2.The ORGAN volume and mass are relevant for dosimetry studies. There are predefined values for DOSIMETRY selection lists. These values can be edited if necessary for any selection.

3.Change the VOI color.

4.The Set VOI name and color button replaces the current VOI name, whereas Append (label) VOI name appends the string to it.

Custom VOI List

To create a custom VOI list please populate the VOIs list with a set of VOIs using the proper names. Select any of the VOIs and open the VOI properties dialog window. Activate List and in the appearing dialog the + button, to define the name of the new list.

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From then on, this list can be used alternatively to the pre-defined lists.