title: Atlas encoding by randomized forests for efficient label propagation.
abstract: We propose a method for multi-atlas label propagation based on encoding the individual atlases by randomized classification forests. Most current approaches perform a non-linear registration between all atlases and the target image, followed by a sophisticated fusion scheme. While these approaches can achieve high accuracy, in general they do so at high computational cost. This negatively affects the scalability to large databases and experimentation. To tackle this issue, we propose to use a small and deep classification forest to encode each atlas individually in reference to an aligned probabilistic atlas, resulting in an Atlas Forest (AF). At test time, each AF yields a probabilistic label estimate, and fusion is done by averaging. Our scheme performs only one registration per target image, achieves good results with a simple fusion scheme, and allows for efficient experimentation. In contrast to standard forest schemes, incorporation of new scans is possible without retraining, and target-specific selection of atlases remains possible. The evaluation on three different databases shows accuracy at the level of the state of the art, at a significantly lower runtime.
authors: Microsoft Research Cambridge.
authors: Darko
authors: D
authors: Zikic
authors: Microsoft Research Cambridge.
authors: Ben
authors: B
authors: Glocker
authors: Microsoft Research Cambridge.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Criminisi
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008959:Models, Neurological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013382:Subtraction Technique