This work involves design and implementation of an automatic method for
segmentation and extraction of brain tumors in brain magnetic resonance
(MR) images. The method being developed will be automatic. However, in
cases where image quality is poor, or the tumors are not well defined,
the software requires the user to specify the approximate position of a
tumor by the use of a mouse input device. This system allows the user
to view an extracted tumor, determine its volume and shape, and modify
it if desired. The developed software is planned to be included in the
software package currently in use at Cleveland Clinic.
The segmentation is carried out in two steps. In the first step, by
intensity thresholding, the approximate position and shape of a tumor
is determined. Then in the second step, the extracted tumor is refined
using edge information in the image. An active surface model is used to
get from the initial segmentation to the final one. The surface model
keeps the topology of a tumor closed and stops the tumor from being
merged with other nearby regions. The accuracy of the method is
determined using brain MR images that have already been manually
segmented by a neuroradiologist.
Images from real patients are used in this study to evaluate the
accuracy of the method and its ease of use. The images being used have
been obtained from Cleveland Clinic. No new images are acquired solely
for the purpose of this study.
P.I. Ardy Goshtasby, WSU
Co-P.I. Jim Leonard, Wright Lab.
Collaborator: Charles Steiner, Cleveland Clinic
Student Participants: Marcel Jackowski, Thisath Kularatna
I. Slice-by-slice segmentation (2-D)
II. Direct volume segmentation (3-D)
[WSU Home Page] [CSE Department Home Page] [Intelligent Systems Lab Page]
For more information contact: A. Goshtasby (ardeshir@cs.wright.edu).
Last modified: 4/25/97.