A task-specific evaluation of three-dimensional image interpolation techniques

Image interpolation is an important operation that is widely used in medica l imaging, image processing, and computer graphics. A variety of interpolat ion methods are available in the literature, However, their systematic eval uation is lacking. In a previous paper, we presented a framework for the ta sk-independent comparison of interpolation methods based on certain image-d erived figures of merit using a variety of medical image data pertaining to different parts of the human body taken from different modalities. In this work, we present an objective task-specific framework for evaluating inter polation techniques. The task considered is how the interpolation methods i nfluence the accuracy of quantification of the total volume of lesions in t he brain of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Sixty lesion-detection experi ments coming from ten patient studies, two subsampling techniques and the o riginal data, and three interpolation methods are carried out, along with a statistical analysis of the results.