title: Segmentation of fascias, fat and muscle from magnetic resonance images in humans: the DISPIMAG software.
abstract: Segmentation of human limb MR images into muscle, fat and fascias remains a cumbersome task. We have developed a new software (DISPIMAG) that allows automatic and highly reproducible segmentation of lower-limb MR images. Based on a pixel intensity analysis, this software does not need any previous mathematical or statistical assumptions. It displays a histogram with two main signals corresponding to fat and muscle, and permits an accurate quantification of their relative spatial distribution. To allow a systematic discrimination between muscle and fat in any subject, fixed boundaries were first determined manually in a group of 24 patients. Secondly, an entirely automatic process using these boundaries was tested by three operators on four patients and compared to the manual approach, showing a high concordance.
authors.affiliation: CRMBM - UMR CNRS 6612 Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, 27, Bd Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille Cedex 5, France. matteijp@club-internet.fr
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.forename: Y Le
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Fur
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cuge
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guis
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cozzone
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bendahan
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005205:Fascia / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D012984:Software