Images
NLST CT Images
Collection
The NLST low-dose helical CT scan image collection comes from over 25,000 people who were randomly assigned to the CT arm of NLST. The CT arm protocol was for three annual helical CT exams to screen for lung cancer: one at baseline (T0) and two more on the first and second anniversaries of randomization (T1 and T2). Only images from CT screening exams are available; images from follow-up scans (with higher radiation dose and image quality) are not in the collection. For each screening exam, the image collection contains (on average) one localizer image and 2 to 3 axial reconstructions of a single helical CT scan of the chest. Approximately 200,000 image series from 75,000 CT exams in 25,000 people are available.
CT images do not contain radiologist's findings. Findings detected in trial screening can be found in the Spiral CT Abnormalities or Spiral CT Comparison Read Abnormalities datasets. Coordinates of findings on CT screens were not collected by the NLST trial.
Lung Cancer Selection
For investigator convenience, a subset of participants have been made available for direct download through an approved Cancer Data Access System (CDAS) project (~28,000 images from ~3,700 participants totaling ~870 GB). The Lung Cancer Selection provides investigators with a set of images and data that are designed to provide the participants with lung cancers (screen-detected and otherwise) and a cross-section of control participants at a size that is manageable for download. Participants within the Lung Cancer Selection are divided into equally-sized training and testing sets designed to have an even distribution of cancers, nodule positive screens, and nodule negative screens. In detail, the Lung Cancer Selection includes:
- All CT images from all participants with screen-detected cancer (N = 623).
- All CT images from all participants with interval or post-screening lung cancer (N = 438).
- All CT images from a random selection of participants with at least one nodule-positive screen (N = 2120).
- All CT images from a random selection of participants with negative screens in all 3 study years (N = 527).
Custom Selections
Investigators may opt to select their own custom populations with the assistance of CDAS staff to best suit their research needs. Custom selections are currently only available via hard drive and are not able to be downloaded from the CDAS website.
How to Access CT Images
CT images may be requested by applying for an NLST project through CDAS. Upon project approval, investigators receive access to the entire collection of NLST CT images. Investigators will then have access to the Lung Cancer Selection download directly from CDAS. Investigators can opt to receive the entirety of the CT collection via hard drive delivery. Hard drive deliveries require the purchase of a specified hard drive, shipping to CDAS offices with signature confirmation, and the inclusion of a return shipping label. If you have any questions please post at https://cdas.cancer.gov/contact/nlst/.
The complete collection of CT images is comprised of more than 20 million files requiring over 10TB.
| Group | Participants | Localizer Images | Axial Images | Terabytes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Detected Lung Cancer with Image in Same Study Year | 622 | 1,035 | 2,244 | 0.17 |
| Lung Cancer with Image | 436 | 1,000 | 2,104 | 0.16 |
| Nodule positive or screen positive with image in Same Study Year | 9,470 | 24,483 | 56,423 | 3.91 |
| 3 Negative Screens with 3 Images | 12,548 | 34,452 | 65,197 | 4.85 |
| Other Participants | 3,162 | 4,206 | 10,493 | 0.96 |
NLST Pathology Images
Collection
The NLST pathology images come from ~450 lung cancer patients in the Lung Screening Study (LSS) subcomponent of NLST. They are images of H&E-stained slides that were obtained as part of a pathology specimen collection to construct tissue microarrays (TMAs). The ~1250 H&E slides (and corresponding images) each came from blocks of lung tissue that were resected during diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer and preserved by pathology labs.
A pathologist reviewed each image to identify histologies of interest for tissue sampling and inclusion in the TMAs. Each region of interest (ROI) was digitally annotated, and the histologies were recorded on case report forms. Data from the case report forms may be obtained by investigators. Annotated pathology images were not retained and are therefore not available.
How to Access Pathology Images
Pathology images may be requested by applying for an NLST project through CDAS. Upon project approval, investigators can download the entire collection of NLST pathology images through CDAS or may opt to receive the pathology images via hard drive delivery. Hard drive deliveries require the purchase of a specified hard drive, shipping to CDAS offices with signature confirmation, and the inclusion of a return shipping label. If you have any questions please post at https://cdas.cancer.gov/contact/nlst/.
External Sources
- Imaging Data Commons (IDC) - CT and Pathology images may be viewed online by registering an account and logging in. Questions related to the use of this service should be directed to NCICRDC@mail.nih.gov.
- The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) - CT and Pathology images may be downloaded. CT images are available in whole or in batches of 2,500 participants each. Questions related to the use of this service should be directed to help@cancerimagingarchive.net.
- American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG-ACRIN). The x-ray images collected at ACRIN centers can be requested by contacting ACRIN (ECOG-ACRIN). Availability of additional ACRIN x-ray images can be requested by selecting "Contact Us". By completing the form and choosing the subject of "Data Sharing", the pertinent ECOG-ACRIN staff members (including the Data Sharing Administrator at Biostatistics Center) will be notified of the request and will respond to the investigator within 48 working hours. [Note: X-ray images collected at LSS centers were not digitized and are therefore not available.]