title: An improved spatial tracking algorithm applied to coronary veins into Cardiac Multi-Slice Computed Tomography volume.
abstract: This paper describes an enhanced vessel tracking algorithm. The method specifity relies on the coronary venous tree extraction through Cardiac Multi-Slice Computed Tomography (MSCT). Indeed, contrast inhomogeneities are a major issue in the data sets that necessitate a robust tracking procedure. The method is based on an existing moment-based algorithm designed for coronary arteries into MSCT volume. In order to extract the whole path of interest, improvements concerning progression strategy are proposed. Furthermore, the original procedure is combined with an automatic recentring method based on ray casting. This enhanced method has been tested on three data sets. According to the first results, the method appears robust to curvatures, contrast inhomogeneities and low contrast blood veins.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Medical Research U642, France. marie-paule.garcia@univ-rennes1.fr
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toumoulin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garreau
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kulik
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boulmier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leclercq
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003201:Computers; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012985:Software Design; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology