title: Medical image diagnostics based on computer-aided flow analysis using magnetic resonance images.
abstract: Most of the cardiac abnormalities have an implication on hemodynamics and affect cardiovascular health. Diagnostic imaging modalities such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging provide excellent anatomical information on myocardial structures, but fail to show the cardiac flow and detect heart defects in vivo condition. The computerized technique for fluid motion estimation by pixel intensity tracking based on magnetic resonance signals represents a promising technique for functional assessment of cardiovascular disease, as it can provide functional information of the heart in addition to analysis of its anatomy. Cardiovascular flow characteristics can be measured in both normal controls and patients with cardiac abnormalities such as atrial septal defect, thus, enabling identification of the underlying causes of these flow phenomena. This review paper focuses on an overview of a flow analysis scheme based on computer-aided evaluation of magnetic resonance intensity images, in comparison with other commonly used medical imaging modalities. Details of the proposed technique are provided with validations being conducted at selected abnormal cardiovascular patients. It is expected that this new technique can potentially extend applications for characterizing cardiovascular defects and their hemodynamic behavior.
authors.affiliation: School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering and Health Innovations Research Institute (HIRi), RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Kelvin K L
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Zhonghua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jiyuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Worthley
authors.forename: Jagannath
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mazumdar
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abbott
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000175:diagnosis; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012212:Rheology