Evaluation of cardiac biventricular segmentation from multiaxis MRI data: a multicenter study.
OBJECTIVE
To validate a volumetric biventricular segmentation solution for multiaxis cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images.


METHODS
The study population comprised 40 subjects. Biventricular end-diastolic and -systolic phases were segmented from both short-axis and horizontal long-axis or transaxial cine CMR images. Segmentation was based on fitting nonrigidly a 3D surface model to multiaxis CMR images. Five segmentations were performed: two manual segmentations by experts, automatic segmentation, and two segmentations where a user was allowed to correct errors in the automatic segmentation for 2 minutes and without time limits. Volumetry, distance measures, and visual grading were used to evaluate the quality of the segmentation.


RESULTS
No difference was observed between automatic and manual segmentations in volumetric measures of the ventricles. The manual segmentation performed better for left-ventricular myocardial volume. The distance between surfaces as well as visual analysis did not show differences between automatic and manual segmentation for the endocardial border of the left ventricle but some corrections are needed for the right ventricle.


CONCLUSIONS
Fully automatic segmentation produces good results in the assessment of left ventricular volume andendocardial border. Two minutes of user interaction are needed to obtain accurate results for the right ventricle.
Lötjönen
Jyrki M P
JM
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Tampere, Finland. jyrki.lotjonen@vtt.fi
Järvinen
Vesa M
VM
Cheong
Benjamin
B
Wu
Edwin
E
Kivistö
Sari
S
Koikkalainen
Juha R
JR
Mattila
Jussi J O
JJ
Kervinen
Helena M
HM
Muthupillai
Raja
R
Sheehan
Florence H
FH
Lauerma
Kirsi
K
D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D038622:Internationality; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000473:pathology*