3D segmentation and visualization of cardiac SPECT studies

Abstract

A new method for the segmentation of myocardial SPECT images is prcscntcd. It USCS cxtraction of crcst lines oT the surface defined by the gray level distribution in a given slice as low-level processing. This technique is robust with respect to defects. An active contour is then used to delineate the left-ventricle myocardial centerline. The choice of radial slices, instead of parallel ones, allows efficient covering of the left ventricle for myocardium "mid-surface" reconstruction.A direct application of this method is 3D-visualization of the radionuclide distribution with perfusion information mapping on this surface, which is expected to simplify the interpretation of cardiac SPECT studies.