A methodology to validate MRI/SPECT registration methods using realistic simulated SPECT data

Abstract

We present a method to validate MRI/SPECT registration methods based on a set of computer-generated SPECT data. The data set was produced through Monte Carlo simulations from an attenuation map and an activity map derived from a manually labeled T1-weighted MRI data set. Our approach intrinsically provides a gold standard to assess MRI/SPECT registration methods. It was successfully applied to the comparison of four registration methods based on similarity measurements: Mutual Information, Normalised Mutual Information, Correlation Ratio andWoods Criterion.