A local probabilistic prior-based active contour model for brain MR image segmentation

Abstract

This paper proposes a probabilistic prior-based active contour model for segmenting human brain MR images. Our model is formulated with the maximum a posterior (MAP) principle and implemented under the level set framework. Probabilistic atlas for the structure of interest, e.g., cortical gray matter or caudate nucleus, can be seamlessly integrate into the level set evolution procedure to provide crucial guidance in accurately capturing the target. Unlike other region-based active contour models, our solution uses locally varying Gaussians to account for intensity inhomogeneity and local variations existing in many MR images are better handled. Experiments conducted on whole brain as well as caudate segmentation demonstrate the improvement made by our model. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.