title: A review of algorithms for medical image segmentation and their applications to the female  pelvic cavity.
abstract: This paper aims to make a review on the current segmentation algorithms used for medical images. Algorithms are classified according to their principal methodologies, namely the ones based on thresholds, the ones based on clustering techniques and the ones based on deformable models. The last type is focused on due to the intensive investigations into the deformable models that have been done in the last few decades. Typical algorithms of each type are discussed and the main ideas, application fields, advantages and disadvantages of each type are summarised. Experiments that apply these algorithms to segment the organs and tissues of the female pelvic cavity are presented to further illustrate their distinct characteristics. In the end, the main guidelines that should be considered for designing the segmentation algorithms of the pelvic cavity are proposed.
authors: Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors: Zhen
authors: Z
authors: Ma
authors: João Manuel R S
authors: JM
authors: Tavares
authors: Renato Natal
authors: RN
authors: Jorge
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Mascarenhas
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*