title: A classifying registration technique for the estimation of enhancement curves of DCE-CT scan sequences.
abstract: In this paper, we propose a new technique for the estimation of contrast enhancement curves of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced sequences, which takes the most from the interdependence between this estimation problem and the registration problem raised by possible movements occurring in sequences. The technique solves the estimation and registration problems simultaneously in an iterative way. However, unlike previous techniques, a pixel classification scheme is included within the estimation so as to compute enhancement curves on pixel classes instead of single pixels. The classification scheme is designed using a descendant hierarchical approach. Due to this tree approach, the number of classes is set automatically and the whole technique is entirely unsupervised. Moreover, some specific prior information about the shape of enhancement curves are included in the splitting and pruning steps of the classification scheme. Such an information ensures that created classes include pixels having homogeneous and relevant enhancement properties. The technique is applied to DET-CT scan sequences and evaluated using ground truth data. Results show that classifications are anatomically sound and that contrast enhancements are accurately estimated from sequences.
authors.affiliation: Centre Universitaire Khemis Miliana, Route Teniat el Had, Ain Defla, Algeria.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hachama
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desolneux
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cuenod
authors.forename: Frédéric J P
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Richard
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media