Device, system and method for generating a medical image of a region of interest of a subject indicating contrast-enhanced regions

A method for generating a medical image of a ROI of a subject indicating contrast-enhanced regions, the method comprising:

• obtaining a spectral image data set of the ROI of the subject, the spectral image data set comprising two or more spectral images;
• segmenting a plurality of anatomical sub-ROIs of the ROI in at least one of a virtual monoenergetic image or a full-energy image of the two or more spectral images;
• determining distribution information for at least one of the anatomical sub-ROIs in at least one contrast-sensitive image of the two or more spectral images having at least one of a higher contrast sensitivity or quantitative accuracy than the virtual monoenergetic image used for the segmentation, the distribution information indicating the tonal distribution of pixels of the respective anatomical sub-ROI;
• determining contrast-enhanced regions of the at least one anatomical sub-ROI in the at least one contrast-sensitive image by determining a threshold based on the determined distribution information of the at least one anatomical sub-ROI and determining pixels of the at least one anatomical sub-ROI having pixel values above the determined threshold;
• and
• outputting a medical image of the ROI generated from the spectral image data set, in which the determined contrast-enhanced regions are indicated.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• obtain a spectral image data set of the ROI of the subject, the spectral image data set comprising two or more spectral images;
• segment a plurality of anatomical sub-ROIs of the ROI in at least one of a virtual monoenergetic image or a full-energy image of the two or more spectral images;
• determine distribution information for at least one of the anatomical sub-ROIs in at least one contrast-sensitive image of the two or more spectral images having at least one of a higher contrast sensitivity or quantitative accuracy than the virtual monoenergetic image used for the segmentation, the distribution information indicating the tonal distribution of pixels of the respective anatomical sub-ROI;
• determine contrast-enhanced regions of the at least one anatomical sub-ROI in the at least one contrast-sensitive image by determining a threshold based on the determined distribution information of the at least one anatomical sub-ROI and determining pixels of the at least one anatomical sub-ROI having pixel values above the determined threshold;
• and
• output a medical image of the ROI generated from the spectral image data set, in which the determined contrast-enhanced regions are indicated.