Scene-Based Segmentation of Multiple Muscles from MRI in MITK

Segmentation of multiple muscles in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is challenging because of the similar intensities of the tissue. In this paper, a novel approach is presented applying a scene-based discrete deformable model (simplex mesh). 3D segmentation is performed on a set of structures rather than on a single object. Relevant structures are modeled in a two-stage hierarchy from groups of clustered muscles (as they usually appear in MRI) to individual muscles. Collision detection is involved during mesh deformation to provide additional information of neighboring structures. The method is implemented in C++ within the Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK) framework. As a proof of concept, we tested the approach on five datasets of the pelvis, three of which have been segmented manually. Indicating the potential impact of the method, we do not claim its general validity yet.