Segmentation of brain x-ray CT images using seeded region growing

Three problems are addressed in this dissertation. They are intracranial volume extraction, noise suppression and automated segmentation of X-Ray Computerized Tomography (CT) images. The segmentation scheme is based on a Seeded Region Growing algorithm. The intracranial volume extraction is based on image symmetry and the noise suppression filter is based on the Gaussian nature of the tissue distribution. Both are essential in achieving good segmentation results. Simulated phantoms and real medical images were used in testing and development of the algorithms. The testing was done over a wide range of noise values, object sizes and mean object grey levels. All the methods were first implemented in two- and then three-dimensions. The 3-D implementation also included an investigation into volume formation and the advantages of 3-D processing. The results of the intracranial extraction showed that 9% of the data in the relevant grey level range consisted of unwanted scalp (The scalp is spatially not part of the intracranial volume, but has the same grey level values). This justified the extraction the intracranial volume for further processing. For phantom objects greater than 741.51mm³ (voxel resolution 0.48mm x 0.48mm x 2mm) and having a mean grey level distance of 10 from any other object, a maximum segmentation volume error of 15% was achieved.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Electrical Engineering

Year dc:date.issued

1996

Author dc:creator

• Bub, Alan Mark

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• De Jager, Gerhard

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17436

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/17436