牙颌CT图像序列中牙的半自动分割方法

牙颌CT图像序列相邻切片之间,相应牙的大小、位置以及牙区域和轮廓的灰度分布等特征比较接近,并呈一定的变化规律,根据这一特点提出了牙颌CT图像序列中牙的半自动分割方法。首先选取参考切片,加入少量用户操作进行参考切片中牙轮廓的提取,接着以参考切片为起始切片,由已完成轮廓提取的牙包围盒作为待处理切片(相邻切片)相应牙的操作区间,然后在此区间内用区域生长法提取牙轮廓,由此逐张切片处理可以自动地得到所有切片全牙列每颗牙的轮廓。实验结果表明,本方法仅需少量用户交互就能快速、基本准确地从牙颌CT图像序列中分割出牙轮廓,具有一定的实用价值。     

An Image-Based Comprehensive Approach for Automatic Segmentation of Left Ventricle from Cardiac Short Axis Cine MR Images

Segmentation of the left ventricle is important in the assessment of cardiac functional parameters. Manual segmentation of cardiac cine MR images for acquiring these parameters is time-consuming. Accuracy and automation are the two important criteria in improving cardiac image segmentation methods. In this paper, we present a comprehensive approach to segment the left ventricle from short axis cine cardiac MR images automatically. Our method incorporates a number of image processing and analysis techniques including thresholding, edge detection, mathematical morphology, and image filtering to build an efficient process flow. This process flow makes use of various features in cardiac MR images to achieve high accurate segmentation results. Our method was tested on 45 clinical short axis cine cardiac images and the results are compared with manual delineated ground truth (average perpendicular distance of contours near 2 mm and mean myocardium mass overlapping over 90%). This approach provides cardiac radiologists a practical method for an accurate segmentation of the left ventricle.     

基于SOM-FCM算法的脑MR多参数图像分割

目的:提出一种新的用于脑MR多参数图像的分割算法,并对算法性能进行评估.方法:应用自组织映射(SOM)神经网络将T1加权像和T2加权像的图像信息结合后进行粗分,粗分的结果作为模糊C均值聚类(FCM)算法的输入,并加入改进的聚类有效性函数作为最佳聚类数的判断依据.结果:对于组织类别数不同的图像,SOM-FCM算法能自动给...     

基于多模态磁共振图像特征选择的脑胶质瘤分割

脑胶质瘤分割通常需要将肿瘤区域细分为多个不同性质的子区域,往往需要使用多种不同模态的磁共振(MR)图像。近年来,基于深度学习的脑胶质瘤分割研究已成为主流。然而,大多数基于深度学习的方法只是将不同模态MR图像(或底层特征)进行通道维度堆叠后输入到分割网络中,并且在特征提取阶段忽略不同性质子区域分割时所需模态特征的差异性,导致分割性能不够精良。本研究提出一种基于多模态MR图像特征选择的两阶段分割框架进行脑胶质瘤分割。一方面,设计多模态特征选择模块并嵌入到分割网络框架中,对当前分割任务所需多模态MR图像特征进行自动提取和有效选择;另一方面,将多个不同性质的病变组织子区域分为两阶段分割任务,利用第一阶段分割任务结果提供第二阶段分割目标的定位信息。本方法和对比方法分别在BraTS2018(训练集285个患者,验证集66个患者)、BraTS2019(训练集335个患者,验证集125个患者)和BraTS2020(训练集369个患者,验证集125个患者)公开数据集上进行了实验。在BraTS2018数据集上,本方法在完整肿瘤、肿瘤核心和增强肿瘤区域的Dice相似系数分别为0.898、0.854和0.818,Hausdorff距离分别为4.072、6.179和3.763;在BraTS2019数据集上,本方法在上述3个肿瘤区域的Dice相似系数分别为0.892、0.839和0.800,Hausdorff距离分别为6.168、7.077和3.807;在BraTS2020数据集上,本方法在上述3个肿瘤区域的Dice相似系数分别为0.896、0.837和0.803,Hausdorff距离分别为6.223、7.033和4.411。对比实验结果表明,所提方法在增强肿瘤区域和肿瘤核心区域的分割性能具有明显优势,特别是增强肿瘤区域分割性能在BraTS2020数据集上最佳。基于多模态特征选择模块的两阶段分割框架,针对每阶段分割目标实现了不同模态MR图像特征的自动和充分学习,取得了理想的分割结果,为计算机辅助肿瘤诊断提供了可能的解决方案。     

An Effective Method for Segmentation of MR Brain Images Using the Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm

Since segmentation of magnetic resonance images is one of the most important initial steps in brain magnetic resonance image processing, success in this part has a great influence on the quality of outcomes of subsequent steps. In the past few decades, numerous methods have been introduced for classification of such images, but typically they perform well only on a specific subset of images, do not generalize well to other image sets, and have poor computational performance. In this study, we provided a method for segmentation of magnetic resonance images of the brain that despite its simplicity has a high accuracy. We compare the performance of our proposed algorithm with similar evolutionary algorithms on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Our algorithm is tested across varying sets of magnetic resonance images and demonstrates high speed and accuracy. It should be noted that in initial steps, the algorithm is computationally intensive requiring a large number of calculations; however, in subsequent steps of the search process, the number is reduced with the segmentation focused only in the target area.     

Cardiac MRI Segmentation Using Mutual Context Information from Left and Right Ventricle

In this paper, we propose a graphcut method to segment the cardiac right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) by using context information from each other. Contextual information is very helpful in medical image segmentation because the relative arrangement of different organs is the same. In addition to the conventional log-likelihood penalty, we also include a “context penalty” that captures the geometric relationship between the RV and LV. Contextual information for the RV is obtained by learning its geometrical relationship with respect to the LV. Similarly, RV provides geometrical context information for LV segmentation. The smoothness cost is formulated as a function of the learned context which helps in accurate labeling of pixels. Experimental results on real patient datasets from the STACOM database show the efficacy of our method in accurately segmenting the LV and RV. We also conduct experiments on simulated datasets to investigate our method’s robustness to noise and inaccurate segmentations.     

Implementation of High-Dimensional Feature Map for Segmentation of MR Images

A method that considerably reduces the computational and memory complexities associated with the generation of high-dimensional (≥3) feature maps for image segmentation is described. The method is based on the K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classification and consists of two parts: preprocessing of feature space and fast KNN. This technique is implemented on a PC and applied for generating 3D and 4D feature maps for segmenting MR brain images of multiple sclerosis patients.     

Gland and Zonal Segmentation of Prostate on T2W MR Images

For many years, prostate segmentation on MR images concerned only the extraction of the entire gland. Currently, in the focal treatment era, there is a continuously increasing need for the separation of the different parts of the organ. In this paper, we propose an automatic segmentation method based on the use of T2W images and atlas images to segment the prostate and to isolate the peripheral and transition zones. The algorithm consists of two stages. First, the target image is registered with each zonal atlas image then the segmentation is obtained by the application of an evidential C-Means clustering. The method was evaluated on a representative and multi-centric image base and yielded mean Dice accuracy values of 0.81, 0.70, and 0.62 for the prostate, the transition zone, and peripheral zone, respectively.     

Development of U-Net Breast Density Segmentation Method for Fat-Sat MR Images Using Transfer Learning Based on Non-Fat-Sat Model

Journal of Digital Imaging - To develop a U-net deep learning method for breast tissue segmentation on fat-sat T1-weighted (T1W) MRI using transfer learning (TL) from a model developed for...     

用自动分割和动态三维重建实现右心室功能定量评价

我们首先引入区域生长算法成功地实现了超声心脏图像的右心室轮廓分割.然后在采用旋转扫描插值算法重建右心室三维数据场的基础上,提出了一种基于逐行、逐层和逐体素的扫描算法,有效地计算了右心室的容积.最后,通过对一个心动周期内不同时刻的右心室容积计算,量化了右心室舒张末期容积(End-diastolic volume,EDV)、收缩末期容积(End-systolic volume,ESV)和右心室射血分数(Right ventrieular ejection fraction,RVEF)等右心室功能参数,并绘制了一个心动周期内右心室容积的变化曲线.通过与Tomtec医学图像工作站的处理结果的对比,证实了本方法的合理性和有效性.     

基于模糊连接度的多发性硬化症MR图像自动分割算法

多发性硬化症(MS)是一种严重威胁中枢神经功能的疾病,利用磁共振成像技术能够无损伤地检出其病灶。为了自动地对多发性硬化症病灶进行分割,提出了基于模糊连接度的分割算法,实现了种子点的自动选取。作为多发性硬化症分割的预处理,针对脑部MR FLAIR图像的特征,基于区域增长方法,还提出了脑部组织提取算法。通过对临床患者MR图像的分割实验,表明该分割算法能够比较准确地分割多发性硬化症病灶,其分割效果明显好于模糊C-均值聚类算法和基于马尔可夫场模型的分割算法。该算法还具有无监督、运算速度快、稳健性好等优点,能够应用于多发性硬化症的临床辅助诊断。     

Levels Propagation Approach to Image Segmentation: Application to Breast MR Images

Journal of Digital Imaging - Accurate segmentation of a breast tumor region is fundamental for treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a widely used diagnostic tool. In this paper, a new...     

Unsupervised Segmentation of Head Tissues from Multi-modal MR Images for EEG Source Localization

In this paper, we present and evaluate an automatic unsupervised segmentation method, hierarchical segmentation approach (HSA)–Bayesian-based adaptive mean shift (BAMS), for use in the construction of a patient-specific head conductivity model for electroencephalography (EEG) source localization. It is based on a HSA and BAMS for segmenting the tissues from multi-modal magnetic resonance (MR) head images. The evaluation of the proposed method was done both directly in terms of segmentation accuracy and indirectly in terms of source localization accuracy. The direct evaluation was performed relative to a commonly used reference method brain extraction tool (BET)–FMRIB’s automated segmentation tool (FAST) and four variants of the HSA using both synthetic data and real data from ten subjects. The synthetic data includes multiple realizations of four different noise levels and several realizations of typical noise with a 20 % bias field level. The Dice index and Hausdorff distance were used to measure the segmentation accuracy. The indirect evaluation was performed relative to the reference method BET-FAST using synthetic two-dimensional (2D) multimodal magnetic resonance (MR) data with 3 % noise and synthetic EEG (generated for a prescribed source). The source localization accuracy was determined in terms of localization error and relative error of potential. The experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of HSA-BAMS, its robustness to noise and the bias field, and that it provides better segmentation accuracy than the reference method and variants of the HSA. They also show that it leads to a more accurate localization accuracy than the commonly used reference method and suggest that it has potential as a surrogate for expert manual segmentation for the EEG source localization problem.     

一种基于特征优化算法的磁共振脑组织分割方法

结合独立分量分析与支持向量机,提出一种基于特征优化算法的磁共振脑组织分割方法。首先,从图像中提取出灰度和纹理特征构成原始特征集;然后,利用独立分量分析技术对所提取的原始图像特征进行优化处理,提取其中的独立分量构成特征子集;最后,把训练样本与待分类样本都映射到特征子集所张成的独立空间中,利用特征子集对支持向量机分类器进行训练并对脑组织进行分类。实验结果表明,采用本研究的分割方法可以获得比其他相关方法更好的脑组织分割结果。     

Method for Segmentation of Knee Articular Cartilages Based on Contrast-Enhanced CT Images

Segmentation of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) images enables quantitative evaluation of morphology of articular cartilage as well as the significance of the lesions. Unfortunately, automatic segmentation methods for CECT images are currently lacking. Here, we introduce a semiautomated technique to segment articular cartilage from in vivo CECT images of human knee. The segmented cartilage geometries of nine knee joints, imaged using a clinical CT-scanner with an intra-articular contrast agent, were compared with manual segmentations from CT and magnetic resonance (MR) images. The Dice similarity coefficients (DSCs) between semiautomatic and manual CT segmentations were 0.79–0.83 and sensitivity and specificity values were also high (0.76–0.86). When comparing semiautomatic and manual CT segmentations, mean cartilage thicknesses agreed well (intraclass correlation coefficient?=?0.85–0.93); the difference in thickness (mean?±?SD) was 0.27?±?0.03 mm. Differences in DSC, when MR segmentations were compared with manual and semiautomated CT segmentations, were statistically insignificant. Similarly, differences in volume were not statistically significant between manual and semiautomatic CT segmentations. Semiautomation decreased the segmentation time from 450?±?190 to 42?±?10 min per joint. The results reveal that the proposed technique is fast and reliable for segmentation of cartilage. Importantly, this is the first study presenting semiautomated segmentation of cartilage from CECT images of human knee joint with minimal user interaction.     

知识引导几何动态轮廓线算法与MR心脏序列图像鲁棒分割

从MR心脏三维动态序列图像中快速精确分割左心室内边界是心功能计算机辅助诊断的重要步骤。由于心室边界的模糊性，传统的基于灰度或曲线演化的方法很难保证分割结果的鲁棒和精确。在分割模型中整合解剖结构和医生经验的先验知识，对提高分割结果对噪声和模糊边界的鲁棒性，改善计算效率非常重要。本研究提出了一种广义模糊几何动态轮廓线分割算法（GF-GACM），并利用基于水平集的概率形状模型，整合医生手动分割训练集的先验知识。对多套临床数据集的实验结果显示，本研究算法的分割结果和专家手动分割结果比较在临床诊断允许误差范围内。     

超声心动图对诊断双腔右心室的价值

目的 探讨超声心动图对诊断双腔右心室（DCRV）的价值；方法 总结1995年1月-2001年5月间经手术证实为双腔右心室的12例住院病例资料，分析其超声心动图特点，并与手术结果进行对照；结果 超声心动图上右心室腔内室上嵴至右心室游离壁见粗大肌束横跨，中央孔狭窄，将右心室分成高压腔及低压腔，彩色多普勒血流显像（CDFI）在中央孔示五色镶嵌的湍流，CW估测中央孔狭窄压差来判断病变程度；12例患，超声心动图诊断DCRV与手术符合10例，符合率为83.3%；DCRV以合并室间隔畸形最为常见；结论 超声心动图在诊断DCRV及其合并心脏畸形等方面具可靠价值，已成为临床上术前正确诊断及术后疗效评价重要手段。     

改进的遗传模糊聚类算法及其在MR脑组织分割中的应用

为提高MR图像中脑组织分割的精度,针对目前遗传模糊聚类算法存在的问题,提出了改进的遗传模糊聚类算法。首先,通过完全改变遗传算法的编码方式、变异方式和交叉方式,对现有遗传算法进行改进,从而使遗传算法能获得最小的适应度函数值;然后,结合模糊聚类算法,最终得到改进的遗传模糊聚类算法。将改进的遗传模糊聚类算法应用于MR脑图像的分割,结果表明,改进的遗传模糊聚类算法的分割质量高于现有的遗传模糊聚类算法和快速模糊聚类算法。改进的遗传模糊聚类算法可以做为一种快速、全自动的MR脑图像分割工具。     

Development and Evaluation of a Semi-automated Segmentation Tool and a Modified Ellipsoid Formula for Volumetric Analysis of the Kidney in Non-contrast T2-Weighted MR Images

Volumetric analysis of the kidney parenchyma provides additional information for the detection and monitoring of various renal diseases. Therefore the purposes of the study were to develop and evaluate a semi-automated segmentation tool and a modified ellipsoid formula for volumetric analysis of the kidney in non-contrast T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR)-images. Three readers performed semi-automated segmentation of the total kidney volume (TKV) in axial, non-contrast-enhanced T2-weighted MR-images of 24 healthy volunteers (48 kidneys) twice. A semi-automated threshold-based segmentation tool was developed to segment the kidney parenchyma. Furthermore, the three readers measured renal dimensions (length, width, depth) and applied different formulas to calculate the TKV. Manual segmentation served as a reference volume. Volumes of the different methods were compared and time required was recorded. There was no significant difference between the semi-automatically and manually segmented TKV (p = 0.31). The difference in mean volumes was 0.3 ml (95% confidence interval (CI), ?10.1 to 10.7 ml). Semi-automated segmentation was significantly faster than manual segmentation, with a mean difference = 188 s (220 vs. 408 s); p < 0.05. Volumes did not differ significantly comparing the results of different readers. Calculation of TKV with a modified ellipsoid formula (ellipsoid volume × 0.85) did not differ significantly from the reference volume; however, the mean error was three times higher (difference of mean volumes ?0.1 ml; CI ?31.1 to 30.9 ml; p = 0.95). Applying the modified ellipsoid formula was the fastest way to get an estimation of the renal volume (41 s). Semi-automated segmentation and volumetric analysis of the kidney in native T2-weighted MR data delivers accurate and reproducible results and was significantly faster than manual segmentation. Applying a modified ellipsoid formula quickly provides an accurate kidney volume.     

AI-Based Automated Lipomatous Tumor Segmentation in MR Images: Ensemble Solution to Heterogeneous Data

Deep learning (DL) has been proposed to automate image segmentation and provide accuracy, consistency, and efficiency. Accurate segmentation of lipomatous tumors (LTs) is critical for correct tumor radiomics analysis and localization. The major challenge of this task is data heterogeneity, including tumor morphological characteristics and multicenter scanning protocols. To mitigate the issue, we aimed to develop a DL-based Super Learner (SL) ensemble framework with different data correction and normalization methods. Pathologically proven LTs on pre-operative T1-weighted/proton-density MR images of 185 patients were manually segmented. The LTs were categorized by tumor locations as distal upper limb (DUL), distal lower limb (DLL), proximal upper limb (PUL), proximal lower limb (PLL), or Trunk (T) and grouped by 80%/9%/11% for training, validation and testing. Six configurations of correction/normalization were applied to data for fivefold-cross-validation trainings, resulting in 30 base learners (BLs). A SL was obtained from the BLs by optimizing SL weights. The performance was evaluated by dice-similarity-coefficient (DSC), sensitivity, specificity, and Hausdorff distance (HD95). For predictions of the BLs, the average DSC, sensitivity, and specificity from the testing data were 0.72 \(\pm\) 0.16, 0.73 \(\pm\) 0.168, and 0.99 \(\pm\) 0.012, respectively, while for SL predictions were 0.80 \(\pm\) 0.184, 0.78 \(\pm\) 0.193, and 1.00 \(\pm\) 0.010. The average HD95 of the BLs were 11.5 (DUL), 23.2 (DLL), 25.9 (PUL), 32.1 (PLL), and 47.9 (T) mm, whereas of SL were 1.7, 8.4, 15.9, 2.2, and 36.6 mm, respectively. The proposed method could improve the segmentation accuracy and mitigate the performance instability and data heterogeneity aiding the differential diagnosis of LTs in real clinical situations.