Shape-based acetabular cartilage segmentation: application to CT and MRI datasets.
OBJECTIVE
A new method for acetabular cartilage segmentation in both computed tomography (CT) arthrography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) datasets with leg tension is developed and tested.


METHODS
The new segmentation method is based on the combination of shape and intensity information. Shape information is acquired according to the predictable nonlinear relationship between the U-shaped acetabulum region and acetabular cartilage. Intensity information is obtained from the acetabular cartilage region automatically to complete the segmentation procedures. This method is evaluated using 54 CT arthrography datasets with two different radiation doses and 20 MRI datasets. Additionally, the performance of this method in identifying acetabular cartilage is compared with four other acetabular cartilage segmentation methods.


RESULTS
This method performed better than the comparison methods. Indeed, this method maintained good accuracy level for 74 datasets independent of the cartilage modality and with minimum user interaction in the bone segmentation procedures. In addition, this method was efficient in noisy conditions and in detection of the damaged cartilages with zero thickness, which confirmed its potential clinical usefulness.


CONCLUSIONS
Our new method proposes acetabular cartilage segmentation in three different datasets based on the combination of the shape and intensity information. This method executes well in situations where there are clear boundaries between the acetabular and femoral cartilages. However, the acetabular cartilage and pelvic bone information should be obtained from one dataset such as CT arthrography or MRI datasets with leg traction.
Control and Intelligent Processing Center of Excellence, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. proshani@ut.ac.ir.
Pooneh R
PR
Tabrizi
Control and Intelligent Processing Center of Excellence, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Reza A
RA
Zoroofi
Imaging-Based Computational Biomedicine (ICB) Lab, Graduate School of Information Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
Futoshi
F
Yokota
Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-2, Suita-shi, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
Takashi
T
Nishii
Imaging-Based Computational Biomedicine (ICB) Lab, Graduate School of Information Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
Yoshinobu
Y
Sato
D000077:Acetabulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006617:Hip Dislocation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
Acetabular cartilage; CT arthrography; Graph-Cut; K-OPLS; MRI; Pelvic bone