An improved level set method for vertebra CT image segmentation

Abstract

BackgroundClinical diagnosis and therapy for the lumbar disc herniation requires accurate vertebra segmentation. The complex anatomical structure and the degenerative deformations of the vertebrae makes its segmentation challenging.MethodsAn improved level set method, namely edge- and region-based level set method (ERBLS), is proposed for vertebra CT images segmentation. By considering the gradient information and local region characteristics of images, the proposed model can efficiently segment images with intensity inhomogeneity and blurry or discontinuous boundaries. To reduce the dependency on manual initialization in many active contour models and for an automatic segmentation, a simple initialization method for the level set function is built, which utilizes the Otsu threshold. In addition, the need of the costly re-initialization procedure is completely eliminated.ResultsExperimental results on both synthetic and real images demonstrated that the proposed ERBLS model is very robust and efficient. Compared with the well-known local binary fitting (LBF) model, our method is much more computationally efficient and much less sensitive to the initial contour. The proposed method has also applied to 56 patient data sets and produced very promising results.ConclusionsAn improved level set method suitable for vertebra CT images segmentation is proposed. It has the flexibility of segmenting the vertebra CT images with blurry or discontinuous edges, internal inhomogeneity and no need of re-initialization.

Automatic segmentation of vertebral contours from CT images using fuzzy corners

“…A set S in Euclidean space is said to be convex if every straight-line segment having its two end points in S lies entirely in S. The smallest convex set that contains the entire point set is its convex hull which is described by the convex combination of finite subset of points in C, as given in Eq. (9).…”

“…For Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/cbm the spine [9], presents an algorithm which utilizes an edge detection function and region detection function to extract lumbar vertebrae for identifying disc herniation. This method is initialized with an Otsu threshold.…”

Accurate Segmentation of Vertebral Bodies and Processes Using Statistical Shape Decomposition and Conditional Models

“…There exists a wide range of approaches in the existing literature for spine and vertebral segmentation [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20]. Table I lists the main papers and reported segmentation results on spine segmentation in the literature.…”

A fully automated method for spinal canal detection in computed tomography images

“…Manual delineation of spinal canal is a time consuming and tedious work, so studies trying to automate this task can be found in the literature [1], [2]. Another application where spine detection is fundamental is in spine segmentation [3], [4], and hence in biomechanical modeling [5] as well as computer-aided detection (CAD) [6]. Furthermore, precise spine detection allows performing curved planar reformation and enabling easier navigation and manipulation of spine in 3D [7].…”