Title: Tissue probability map constrained 4D clustering algorithm for increased accuracy and robustness in SerialMR brain image segmentation

Authors: Zhong Xue; Dinggang Shen; Hai Li; Stephen T.C. Wong

Addresses: Biomedical Image Computing Lab, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, The Methodist Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX, USA. ' Department of Radiology and BRIC, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. ' Biomedical Image Computing Lab, Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, The Methodist Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX, USA. ' Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Department of Radiology, The Methodist Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX, USA

Abstract: The traditional fuzzy clustering algorithms might be biased due to the variability of tissue intensities and anatomical structures: clustering-based algorithms tend to over-segment white matter tissues of MR brain images. To solve this problem, we propose a tissue probability map constrained clustering algorithm and apply it to series of 3D MR brain images of the same subject at different time points for longitudinal study. The tissue probability maps consist of segmentation priors obtained from a population and reflect the probability of different tissue types. Using the proposed algorithm in the framework of the CLASSIC algorithm, which iteratively segments a series of images and estimates their longitudinal deformations, more accurate and robust longitudinal measures can be achieved. Experimental results using both simulated and real data confirmed the advantages of the proposed algorithm in longitudinal follow up studies of MR brain imaging with subtle morphological changes for neurological disorders.

Keywords: image segmentation; longitudinal image processing; MR brain images; tissue probability maps; clustering algorithms; neurological disorders.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMEI.2011.042874

International Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics, 2011 Vol.3 No.3, pp.286 - 298

Published online: 07 Mar 2015 *

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