MRI intensity nonuniformity correction using simultaneously spatial and gray-level histogram information

A novel approach for correcting intensity nonuniformity in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is presented. This approach is based on the fusion of spatial and gray-level histogram information. Spatial information about intensity nonuniformity is obtained using cubic B-spline smoothing. Gray-level histogram information of the image corrupted by intensity nonuniformity is exploited from a frequential point of view. The proposed correction method is illustrated using both physical phantom and human brain images. The results are consistent with theoretical prediction, and demonstrate a new way of dealing with intensity nonuniformity problems.

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