title: Left ventricle segmentation in dynamic cardiac CT using random walks method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Segmentation of the left ventricle (LV) in cardiac CT (CCT) images is difficult due to the intensity heterogeneity arising from accumulation of contrast agent in papillary muscle and trabeculae carneae. In this study, we demonstrated the random walks method for LV segmentation in CCT through cardiac phases.
  
  
  METHODS
  63 CCT data sets from 7 patients with 9 cardiac phases were included in this study. All cardiac CT examinations were performed with GE 64-detector CT scanner with ECG gating. In each patient, 60-80 ml iohexol was injected at a flow rate of 5 ml/sec followed by 60 ml normal saline solution. Random walks (RW) based on probability of labels was used for LV segmentation. The LV delineations generated by the experienced physician (MD), conventional image-based method (IB), and RW were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general the contours segment the LV closely by RW and MD, but the discrepancies in papillary muscle and trabeculae carneae were observed while using the IB method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We showed the RW method potentially improved LV segmentation as compared to the volume by conventional IB method. In this study, we demonstrated the clinical feasibility of LV volume segmentation using random walks algorithm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taiwan Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Peng Hu Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yang-Hsien
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, Chun Yuan Christian University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kang-Ping
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Peng Hu Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hui-Ting
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Peng Hu Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tien-Hsiang
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taiwan Department of Biomedical Informatics, Asia University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzung-Chi
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; 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; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Left ventricle; cardiac computed tomography; random walks