Automated heart localization in cardiac cine MR data

Abstract

Cardiac MRI is the modality of choice in cardiology for the assessment of the ventricular function, since the heart’s anatomy is visualized with high resolution. This functional assessment is a time-consuming task for the cardiac radiologist when performed manually. Therefore, computer-driven diagnostic solutions are of particular importance for clinical applications. In order to ensure the success of such computer aided diagnosis algorithms however, a correct, initial localization of the heart region in the raw data is crucial. For this purpose, we present a novel, simple and fully automated approach for localizing the heart region in cardiac cine MR data. Without the need for prior knowledge or training datasets, this method enables a ready to use application for a robust localization. This processing step is a fundamental component for the development of integrated automated applications.