Systems and methods for rapid neural network-based image segmentation and radiopharmaceutical uptake determination

A system for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• (a) receive a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receive a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determine, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identify, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• and
• (e) determine the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• identify a reference volume within the 3D anatomical image, the reference volume corresponding to a reference tissue region within the subject;
• and
• at step (e), determine at least one of the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the reference volume identified within the 3D anatomical image.

A method for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving, by a processor of a computing device, a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receiving, by the processor, a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determining, by the processor, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identifying, by the processor, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• and
• (e) determining, by the processor, the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image, and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• identifying, by the processor, a bladder volume within the 3D anatomical image corresponding to a bladder of the subject;
• and
• at step (e), correcting for cross-talk from the bladder using intensities of voxels of the 3D functional image corresponding to the identified bladder volume within the 3D anatomical image.

A method for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving, by a processor of a computing device, a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receiving, by the processor, a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determining, by the processor, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identifying, by the processor, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• and
• (e) determining, by the processor, the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image, and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• identifying, by the processor, a bladder volume within the 3D anatomical image corresponding to a bladder of the subject;
• determining, by the processor, a dilated bladder volume by applying a morphological dilation operation to the identified bladder volume;
• and
• at step (e), determining the one or more uptake metrics using intensity values of voxels of the 3D functional image that (i) correspond to the prostate volume identified within the VOI of the 3D anatomical image, but (ii) do not correspond to regions of the 3D anatomical image within the dilated bladder volume.

A method for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving, by a processor of a computing device, a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receiving, by the processor, a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determining, by the processor, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identifying, by the processor, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• (e) determining, by the processor, the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image;
• causing, by the processor, display of an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) for presentation to the user of a visual representation of the 3D anatomical image and/or the 3D functional image;
• and
• (g) causing, by the processor, graphical rendering of, within the GUI, the 3D anatomical image and/or the 3D functional image as selectable and superimposable layers, such that either can be selected for display and rendered separately, or both selected for display and rendered together by overlaying the 3D anatomical image with the 3D functional image.

A method for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving, by a processor of a computing device, a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receiving, by the processor, a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determining, by the processor, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identifying, by the processor, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• and
• (e) determining, by the processor, the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image;
• wherein step (d) comprises using the second module to identify one or more additional tissue volumes within the 3D anatomical image, each volume corresponding to a specific tissue region within the subject, wherein the one or more additional tissue volumes correspond(s) to one or more specific tissue regions selected from the group consisting of:
• a pelvic bone of the subject;
• a bladder of the subject;
• a rectum of the subject;
• and
• a gluteal muscle of the subject;
• and
• wherein the method further comprises:
• identifying, by the processor, using one or more auxiliary modules, one or more auxiliary tissue volumes within the 3D anatomical image, each auxiliary tissue volume corresponding to a base tissue volume identified by the second module;
• and
• merging, by the processor, each auxiliary tissue volume with the corresponding base tissue volume identified by the second module.

A method for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving, by a processor of a computing device, a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receiving, by the processor, a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determining, by the processor, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identifying, by the processor, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• (e) determining, by the processor, the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image;
• and
• determining, by the processor, based on at least a portion of the one or more uptake metrics, one or more diagnostic or prognostic values for the subject, wherein for at least one of the one or more diagnostic or prognostic values said determining comprises comparing an uptake metric to one or more threshold value(s).

A method for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving, by a processor of a computing device, a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receiving, by the processor, a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determining, by the processor, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identifying, by the processor, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• (e) determining, by the processor, the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image;
• and
• determining, by the processor, based on at least a portion of the one or more uptake metrics, one or more diagnostic or prognostic values for the subject, wherein at least one of the one or more diagnostic or prognostic values estimates a risk for clinically significant prostate cancer in the subject.

A method for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving, by a processor of a computing device, a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receiving, by the processor, a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determining, by the processor, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identifying, by the processor, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• and
• (e) determining, by the processor, the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image,
• wherein the first module is a first CNN (convolutional neural network) module and the second module is a second CNN module, wherein the second CNN module comprises a greater number of convolutional filters than the first CNN module.

A method for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving, by a processor of a computing device, a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receiving, by the processor, a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determining, by the processor, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identifying, by the processor, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• and
• (e) determining, by the processor, the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image,
• wherein the method comprises performing steps (a) and (c) for each of a plurality of 3D anatomical images to determine a plurality of initial VOIs, each within one of the plurality of 3D anatomical images, wherein a variability in sizes of the initial VOIs is less than a variability in sizes of the 3D anatomical images.

A system for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• (a) receive a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receive a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determine, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identify, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• and
• (e) determine the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image, and
• wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
• identify a bladder volume within the 3D anatomical image corresponding to a bladder of the subject;
• and
• at step (e), correct for cross-talk from the bladder using intensities of voxels of the 3D functional image corresponding to the identified bladder volume within the 3D anatomical image.

A system for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• (a) receive a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receive a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determine, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identify, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• and
• (e) determine the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image, and
• wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
• identify a bladder volume within the 3D anatomical image corresponding to a bladder of the subject;
• determine a dilated bladder volume by applying a morphological dilation operation to the identified bladder volume;
• and
• at step (e), determine the one or more uptake metrics using intensity values of voxels of the 3D functional image that (i) correspond to the prostate volume identified within the VOI of the 3D anatomical image, but (ii) do not correspond to regions of the 3D anatomical image within the dilated bladder volume.

A system for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• (a) receive a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receive a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determine, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identify, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• (e) determine the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image;
• cause display of an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) for presentation to the user of a visual representation of the 3D anatomical image and/or the 3D functional image;
• and
• (g) cause graphical rendering of, within the GUI, the 3D anatomical image and/or the 3D functional image as selectable and superimposable layers, such that either can be selected for display and rendered separately, or both selected for display and rendered together by overlaying the 3D anatomical image with the 3D functional image.

A system for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• (a) receive a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receive a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determine, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identify, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• and
• (e) determine the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image;
• wherein step (d) comprises using the second module to identify one or more additional tissue volumes within the 3D anatomical image, each volume corresponding to a specific tissue region within the subject, wherein the one or more additional tissue volumes correspond(s) to one or more specific tissue regions selected from the group consisting of:
• a pelvic bone of the subject;
• a bladder of the subject;
• a rectum of the subject;
• and
• a gluteal muscle of the subject;
• and
• wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
• identify, using one or more auxiliary modules, one or more auxiliary tissue volumes within the 3D anatomical image, each auxiliary tissue volume corresponding to a base tissue volume identified by the second module;
• and
• merge each auxiliary tissue volume with the corresponding base tissue volume identified by the second module.

A system for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• (a) receive a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receive a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determine, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identify, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• (e) determine the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image;
• and
• (f) determine, based on at least a portion of the one or more uptake metrics, one or more diagnostic or prognostic values for the subject, wherein for at least one of the one or more diagnostic or prognostic values said determining comprises comparing an uptake metric to one or more threshold value(s).

A system for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• (a) receive a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receive a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determine, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identify, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• (e) determine the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image;
• and
• (f) determine, based on at least a portion of the one or more uptake metrics, one or more diagnostic or prognostic values for the subject, wherein at least one of the one or more diagnostic or prognostic values estimates a risk for clinically significant prostate cancer in the subject.

A system for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• (a) receive a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receive a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determine, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identify, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• and
• (e) determine the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image, wherein the first module is a first CNN (convolutional neural network) module and the second module is a second CNN module, wherein the second CNN module comprises a greater number of convolutional filters than the first CNN module.

A system for automatically processing 3D images to identify 3D volumes within the 3D images that correspond to a prostate of a subject and determining one or more uptake metrics indicative of radiopharmaceutical uptake therein, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• (a) receive a 3D anatomical image of the subject obtained using an anatomical imaging modality, wherein the 3D anatomical image comprises a graphical representation of tissue within a subject, at least a portion of which corresponds to a pelvic region of the subject;
• (b) receive a 3D functional image of the subject obtained using a functional imaging modality, wherein the 3D functional image comprises a plurality of voxels, each representing a particular physical volume within the subject and having an intensity value that represents detected radiation emitted from the particular physical volume, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of voxels of the 3D functional image represent physical volumes within the pelvic region of the subject;
• (c) determine, using a first module, an initial volume of interest (VOI) within the 3D anatomical image, the initial VOI corresponding to tissue within the pelvic region of the subject and excluding tissue outside the pelvic region of the subject;
• (d) identify, using a second module, a prostate volume within the initial VOI corresponding to the prostate of the subject;
• and
• (e) determine the one or more uptake metrics using the 3D functional image and the prostate volume identified within the initial VOI of the 3D anatomical image, wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform steps (a) and (c) for each of a plurality of 3D anatomical images to determine a plurality of initial VOIs, each within one of the plurality of 3D anatomical images, wherein a variability in sizes of the initial VOIs is less than a variability in sizes of the 3D anatomical images.