Intensity-Based Classification and Related Methods in Brain MR Images

Abstract

Today, medical image processing and analysis are highly active research fields boosted by rapid technical developments in medical imaging field. This chapter describes common procedures such as thresholding methods and clustering algorithms (both non-hierarchical and hierarchical approaches) used for digital image processing, with specific reference to brain magnetic resonance images. These techniques represent starting points for other sophisticated methods such as segmentation and classification. The results, which are an outcome of these methods, are used for classification of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer, Pick's, Huntington's or cerebral calcinosis. A number of applications together with the code listing are provided with the aim to make the subject accessible and practical. The MATLAB software will help the readers to identify and choose the best solution for a particular problem.