title: Initialization, noise, singularities, and scale in height ridge traversal for tubular object centerline extraction.
abstract: The extraction of the centerlines of tubular objects in two and three-dimensional images is a part of many clinical image analysis tasks. One common approach to tubular object centerline extraction is based on intensity ridge traversal. In this paper, we evaluate the effects of initialization, noise, and singularities on intensity ridge traversal and present multiscale heuristics and optimal-scale measures that minimize these effects. Monte Carlo experiments using simulated and clinical data are used to quantify how these "dynamic-scale" enhancements address clinical needs regarding speed, accuracy, and automation. In particular, we show that dynamic-scale ridge traversal is insensitive to its initial parameter settings, operates with little additional computational overhead, tracks centerlines with subvoxel accuracy, passes branch points, and handles significant image noise. We also illustrate the capabilities of the method for medical applications involving a variety of tubular structures in clinical data from different organs, patients, and imaging modalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599, USA. aylward@unc.edu
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Aylward
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bullitt
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008954:Models, Biological; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods