Subvoxel segmentation and representation of brain cortex using fuzzy clustering and gradient vector diffusion

Ming-Ching Chang; Xiaodong Tao

doi:10.1117/12.843853

12 March 2010 Subvoxel segmentation and representation of brain cortex using fuzzy clustering and gradient vector diffusion

Ming-Ching Chang, Xiaodong Tao

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7623, Medical Imaging 2010: Image Processing; 76231L (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.843853
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Segmentation and representation of human brain cortex from Magnetic Resonance (MR) images is an important step for visualization and analysis in many neuro imaging applications. In this paper, we propose an automatic and fast algorithm to segment the brain cortex and to represent it as a geometric surface on which analysis can be carried out. The algorithm works on T1 weighted MR brain images with extracranial tissue removed. A fuzzy clustering algorithm with a parametric bias field model is applied to assign membership values of gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to each voxel. The cortical boundaries, namely the WM-GM and GM-CSF boundary surfaces, are extracted as iso-surfaces of functions derived from these membership functions. The central surface (CS), which traces the peak values (or ridges) of the GM membership function, is then extracted using gradient vector diffusion. Our main contribution is to provide a generic, accurate, fast, yet fully-automatic approach to (i) produce a soft segmentation of the MR brain image with intensity field correction, (ii) extract both the boundary and the center of the cortex in a surface form, where the topology and geometry can be explicitly examined, and (iii) use the extracted surfaces to model the curvy, folding cortical volume, which allows an intuitive measurement of the thickness. As a demonstration, we compute cortical thickness from the surfaces and compare the results with what has been reported in the literature. The entire process from raw MR image to cortical surface reconstruction takes on average between five to ten minutes.

Citation Download Citation

Ming-Ching Chang and Xiaodong Tao "Subvoxel segmentation and representation of brain cortex using fuzzy clustering and gradient vector diffusion", Proc. SPIE 7623, Medical Imaging 2010: Image Processing, 76231L (12 March 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.843853

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available