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+<h1>SPIDER - Lumbar Spine Segmentation in MR Images: A Dataset and a Public Benchmark</h1>
+
+<h2>Creators</h2>
+<ul>
+  <li>Jasper Willem van der Graaf<sup>1</sup></li>
+  <li>Miranda L. van Hooff<sup>1</sup></li>
+  <li>Constantinus F. M. Buckens<sup>1</sup></li>
+  <li>Matthieu Rutten<sup>2</sup></li>
+  <li>Job L. C. van Susante<sup>3</sup></li>
+  <li>Robert Jan Kroeze<sup>4</sup></li>
+  <li>Marinus de Kleuver<sup>1</sup></li>
+  <li>Bram van Ginneken<sup>1</sup></li>
+  <li>Nikolas Lessmann<sup>1</sup></li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2>Description</h2>
+<p>
+This is a large publicly available <strong>multi-center lumbar spine MRI dataset</strong> with expert reference segmentations of vertebrae, intervertebral discs (IVDs), and the spinal canal.
+The dataset contains <strong>447 sagittal T1- and T2-weighted MRI series</strong> from <strong>218 studies</strong> of <strong>218 patients</strong> with a history of low back pain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Data was collected from four different hospitals. An additional <strong>hidden test set</strong> is used for evaluation in the accompanying SPIDER challenge at
+<a href="https://spider.grand-challenge.org/" target="_blank">spider.grand-challenge.org</a>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+We release this dataset to promote collaboration and participation in the field of spine segmentation and to improve the diagnostic value of lumbar spine MRI.
+</p>
+
+<h3>Dataset Details</h3>
+<ul>
+  <li>The <strong>overview file</strong> includes:
+    <ul>
+      <li>Training and validation assignments</li>
+      <li>Biological sex for all patients</li>
+      <li>Patient age (when available)</li>
+      <li>Scanner and acquisition parameters for each MRI study</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>
+    A separate file provides <strong>radiological gradings</strong> per IVD level for the following degenerative changes:
+    <ol>
+      <li>Modic changes (Type I, II, or III)</li>
+      <li>Endplate changes / Schmorl nodes (binary)</li>
+      <li>Spondylolisthesis (binary)</li>
+      <li>Disc herniation (binary)</li>
+      <li>Disc narrowing (binary)</li>
+      <li>Disc bulging (binary)</li>
+      <li>Pfirrman grade (Grade 1 to 5)</li>
+    </ol>
+  </li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2>Publication</h2>
+<p>
+This dataset and the associated public benchmark are described in the following paper:<br>
+<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-024-03090-w" target="_blank">
+https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-024-03090-w
+</a>
+</p>
+
+<h2>Challenge</h2>
+<p>
+The public segmentation challenge associated with this dataset is hosted at:<br>
+<a href="https://spider.grand-challenge.org/" target="_blank">https://spider.grand-challenge.org/</a>
+</p>
+
+<h2>How to Cite</h2>
+<p>
+When using this dataset, please cite both the dataset (with its correct DOI) and the paper linked above.
+</p>