Multiresolution, model‐based segmentation of MR angiograms

During the last decade, the quality of MR angiograms has risen substantially and their clinical utility has been demonstrated progressively. This acceptance has created a need for tools with which to summarize and display the information available. We have used a model‐based segmentation technique to extract vascular morphology and local flow parameters from phase contrast MR angiograms. A multiresolution data structure is used as the basis of recursive decision‐making to identify regions of blood flow. The resulting data representation allows more efficient data handling in subsequent processing and visualization and is directly applicable to the creation of a connected graph model of vascular regions. We describe this flow feature extraction algorithm and demonstrate the utility of the results.