Data Analysis of the Lung Imaging Database Consortium and Image Database Resource Initiative

Rationale and Objectives The Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC) and Image Database Resource Initiative (IDRI) is the largest publicly available computed tomography (CT) image reference data set of lung nodules. In this article, a comprehensive data analysis of the data set and a uniform data model are presented with the purpose of facilitating potential researchers to have an in-depth understanding to and efficient use of the data set in their lung cancer–related investigations. Materials and Methods A uniform data model was designed for representation and organization of various types of information contained in different source data files. A software tool was developed for the processing and analysis of the database, which 1) automatically aligns and graphically displays the nodule outlines marked manually by radiologists onto the corresponding CT images; 2) extracts diagnostic nodule characteristics annotated by radiologists; 3) calculates a variety of nodule image features based on the outlines of nodules, including diameter, volume, and degree of roundness, and so forth; 4) integrates all the extracted nodule information into the uniform data model and stores it in a common and easy-to-access data format; and 5) analyzes and summarizes various feature distributions of nodules in several different categories. Using this data processing and analysis tool, all 1018 CT scans from the data set were processed and analyzed for their statistical distribution. Results The information contained in different source data files with different formats was extracted and integrated into a new and uniform data model. Based on the new data model, the statistical distributions of nodules in terms of nodule geometric features and diagnostic characteristics were summarized. In the LIDC/IDRI data set, 2655 nodules ≥3 mm, 5875 nodules