D. Goldbergzimring et al., AUTOMATED DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS LESIONS IN BRAIN MR-IMAGES, Magnetic resonance imaging, 16(3), 1998, pp. 311-318
In the present study an automatic algorithm for detection and contouri
ng of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions in brain magnetic resonance (MR)
images is introduced. This algorithm automatically detects MS lesions
in axial proton density, T-2-weighted, gadolinium enhanced, and fast
fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) brain MR images. Automated
detection consists of three main stages: (1) detection and contouring
of all hyperintense signal regions within the image; (2) partial elim
ination of false positive segments (defined herein as artifacts) by si
ze, shape index, and anatomical location; (3) the use of an artificial
neural paradigm (Back-Propagation) for final removal of artifacts by
differentiating them from true MS lesions. The algorithm was applied t
o 45 images acquired from 14 MS patients. The algorithm's sensitivity
was 0.87 and the specificity 0.96. In 34 images, 100% of the lesions w
ere detected. The algorithm potentially may serve as a useful preproce
ssing tool for quantitative MS monitoring via magnetic resonance imagi
ng. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.