A fast technique for hyper-echoic region separation from brain ultrasound images using patch based thresholding and cubic B-spline based contour smoothing

• Published in: Ultrasonics Vol. 111; p. 106304
• Main Authors: Chel, Haradhan, Bora, P.K., Ramchiary, K.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Algorithms; Boundary correction; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - surgery; Contour smoothing; Databases, Factual; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Patch based segmentation; Ultrasonography, Interventional - methods; Ultrasound guided surgery; Ultrasound image segmentation; Boundary correction; Patch based segmentation; Ultrasound guided surgery; Ultrasound image segmentation; Contour smoothing
• ISSN: 0041-624X; 1874-9968; 1874-9968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2020.106304

Ultrasound image guided brain surgery (UGBS) requires an automatic and fast image segmentation method. The level-set and active contour based algorithms have been found to be useful for obtaining topology-independent boundaries between different image regions. But slow convergence limits their use in online US image segmentation. The performance of these algorithms deteriorates on US images because of the intensity inhomogeneity. This paper proposes an effective region-driven method for the segmentation of hyper-echoic (HE) regions suppressing the hypo-echoic and anechoic regions in brain US images. An automatic threshold estimation scheme is developed with a modified Niblack’s approach. The separation of the hyper-echoic and non-hyper-echoic (NHE) regions is performed by successively applying patch based intensity thresholding and boundary smoothing. First, a patch based segmentation is performed, which separates roughly the two regions. The patch based approach in this process reduces the effect of intensity heterogeneity within an HE region. An iterative boundary correction step with reducing patch size improves further the regional topology and refines the boundary regions. For avoiding the slope and curvature discontinuities and obtaining distinct boundaries between HE and NHE regions, a cubic B-spline model of curve smoothing is applied. The proposed method is 50–100 times faster than the other level-set based image segmentation algorithms. The segmentation performance and the convergence speed of the proposed method are compared with four other competing level-set based algorithms. The computational results show that the proposed segmentation approach outperforms other level-set based techniques both subjectively and objectively. [Display omitted] •This is an ultrasound image segmentation method designed for online monitoring of brain during surgery using ultrasound modality.•This method is simple and does not apply any complex optimization technique hence 50–100 times faster than the conventional methods.•Patch based thresholding and an innovative boundary technique are used.•Curve smoothing is performed using cubic B-spline interpolation.•Compared with existing level-set and machine learning methods.