1ST STEP TOWARD THE AUTOMATIC INTERPRETAT ION OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC-IMAGES

A preliminary study is described relative to the possibility of using methods of automatic image interpretation in the field of biomedical i mages. These general methods are capable of recognizing characteristic shapes inside the image. In this paper, the structures are described and interpreted. These methods are capable of outlining shapes which a re important from a clinical point of view - e.g., spine, vertebrae. T hey can also evaluate the shapes by plausible methods, to explain the meaning of the whole image. A feasibility study is described concernin g the automatic recognition of vertebral contour in axial CT images. T he results suggest that the employed techniques can be used in real di agnostic applications.