Local filtering and global optimization methods for 3-D magnetic-resonance angiography image enhancement

In this presentation, we discuss the visualization of cerebral blood vessels in 3-D MR angiography images. Two techniques for an improved visualization are investigated: 3-D non- linear morphological filters that enhance the contrast of blood-vessel-like structures and a global stochastic optimization framework incorporating shape constraints. The resulting filtered images are combined into a novel hybrid volume rendering visualization method for the integrated viewing of brain structures and cerebral vasculature.