Multimodal integration, correlation and fusion of morphology and function:methods and first clinical applications

Besides the pure visual diagnosis of morphology in comparison with function , digital multimodal image analysis is steadily gaining in importance. Digi tal image processing is used in integration, correlation and fusion of topo graphically identical image data. After defining these terms and describing the acquisition techniques and influence parameters, this article reviews the methods of multimodal image processing, with emphasis on correlation me thods. It also gives a short description of special methods in nuclear medi cine. The clinical part briefly reviews the clinical use as well as the pro gress achieved and the benefits expected for diagnostic applications.