Medical image reporting system and method

A computing system for calculating at least one lymph node station based on 3D image data of a patient's thoracic region, said system comprising:

• a memory storing said image data;
• a processor in communication with said memory, the processor being operative to:
• a) calculate a 3D model of at least one anatomical structure in the chest of the patient based on said 3D image data;
• b) calculate at least one anatomical cue derived from said at least one anatomical structure;
• and
• c) calculate said at least one lymph node station based on said 3D image data and at least one anatomical cue, the calculating comprising automatically computing a plurality of Mountain Stations based, on said 3D image data and automatically computing which of said Mountain Stations are accessible via a bronchoscope.

A method for automatically identifying at least one lymph node station in a thoracic region of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

• calculating a 3D model of at least one anatomical structure in the chest based on 3D image data, the at least one anatomical structure including No-Fly zones being regions which should not be punctured;
• calculating at least one anatomical cue derived from said at least one anatomical structure;
• and
• calculating at least one lymph node station based on said 3D image data and using said at least one anatomical cue wherein said calculating at least one lymph node station is performed automatically, the calculating step comprising automatically computing a plurality of Mountain Stations based on the 3D image data and automatically computing which of said Mountain Stations are accessible, and thereby avoiding the No-Fly zones.