A scale space based algorithm for automated segmentation of single shot tagged MRI of shearing deformation.
OBJECTIVE
This study proposes a scale space based algorithm for automated segmentation of single-shot tagged images of modest SNR. Furthermore the algorithm was designed for analysis of discontinuous or shearing types of motion, i.e. segmentation of broken tag patterns.


METHODS
The proposed algorithm utilises non-linear scale space for automatic segmentation of single-shot tagged images. The algorithm's ability to automatically segment tagged shearing motion was evaluated in a numerical simulation and in vivo. A typical shearing deformation was simulated in a Shepp-Logan phantom allowing for quantitative evaluation of the algorithm's success rate as a function of both SNR and the amount of deformation. For a qualitative in vivo evaluation tagged images showing deformations in the calf muscles and eye movement in a healthy volunteer were acquired.


RESULTS
Both the numerical simulation and the in vivo tagged data demonstrated the algorithm's ability for automated segmentation of single-shot tagged MR provided that SNR of the images is above 10 and the amount of deformation does not exceed the tag spacing. The latter constraint can be met by adjusting the tag delay or the tag spacing.


CONCLUSIONS
The scale space based algorithm for automatic segmentation of single-shot tagged MR enables the application of tagged MR to complex (shearing) deformation and the processing of datasets with relatively low SNR.
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.m.sprengers@amc.uva.nl
Andre M J
AM
Sprengers
Matthan W A
MW
Caan
Kevin M
KM
Moerman
Aart J
AJ
Nederveen
Rolf M
RM
Lamerichs
Jaap
J
Stoker
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009038:Motion; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio