Hierarchical max-flow segmentation framework for multi-atlas segmentation with Kohonen self-organizing map based Gaussian mixture modeling
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2016
Journal
Medical Image Analysis
Volume
27
First Page
45
Last Page
56
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1016/j.media.2015.05.005
Abstract
© 2015 Elsevier B.V. The incorporation of intensity, spatial, and topological information into large-scale multi-region segmentation has been a topic of ongoing research in medical image analysis. Multi-region segmentation problems, such as segmentation of brain structures, pose unique challenges in image segmentation in which regions may not have a defined intensity, spatial, or topological distinction, but rely on a combination of the three. We propose a novel framework within the Advanced segmentation tools (ASETS). 22ASETS website: http://www.advancedsegmentationtools.org/, which combines large-scale Gaussian mixture models trained via Kohonen self-organizing maps, with deformable registration, and a convex max-flow optimization algorithm incorporating region topology as a hierarchy or tree. Our framework is validated on two publicly available neuroimaging datasets, the OASIS and MRBrainS13 databases, against the more conventional Potts model, achieving more accurate segmentations. Each component is accelerated using general-purpose programming on graphics processing Units to ensure computational feasibility.