Abstract. Bioluminescence imaging is a recent modality to visualize biological effects more especially for small animals. However the acquired images are degraded by diffusion and absorption phenomena from the tissue and by the acquisition system itself. In this paper, we use restoration methods to enhance the quality of bioluminescence images. We propose a model for image formation and an experimental determination of the PSF (Point Spread Function). Several methods of restoration are compared on test images generated according to the model and on real data. This comparison is insured by using MSE (Mean Square Error) and two quantitative criteria. Results establish that the statistical methods give more accurate restoration and well adapted for Bioluminescence Imaging.
To improve spatial resolution in in vivo bioluminescence imaging, a photon scattering correction, image restoration method was tested. The chosen algorithm was tested on in vivo bioluminescent images acquired on three representative tumor models: subcutaneous, pulmonary, and disseminated peritoneal. Tumor size was chosen as a quantitative criterion, such that the tumor reference measurements (determined photographically or by computed tomography) were compared to those derived from bioluminescent images, before and after restoration. This technique allowed a significant reduction to be achieved in the relative error between reference measurements and dimensions derived from bioluminescent images. In addition, improved delineation of the tumor foci was achieved. The restoration method allows spatial resolution in bioluminescence imaging to be improved, with interesting perspectives in terms of staging and quantitation in experimental oncology.
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