An adaptive extended colour scale for comparison of pseudo colouring techniques for DCE-MRI data

Abstract

Pseudo colouring techniques are frequently used for analysing multivariate image data such as dynamic contrast enhanced mr images. Dedicated features of the high dimensional signal are mapped to pseudo colour codes and are superimposed on the image data. Nevertheless, the examination and comparison of different mapping functions is difficult, because the variability of the multivariate signal and pseudo colour scale have to be adequately and simultaneously presented. In this paper, we propose a setup for examination of different pseudo colour scales based on self organising maps. Thereby, the data distribution of the high dimensional signal is represented by a structured set of signal prototypes. Application of the pseudo colouring techniques to these prototypes leads to an extended colour scale which simultaneously gives a comprehensive display of the signal space together with the colour codes.