Abstract(s)
Objective: The purpose of this paper is to describe a semiautomated segmentation method for the liver
and evaluate its performance on CT-scan and MR images.
Methods: First, an approximate 3-D model of the liver is
initialized from a few user-generated contours to globally
outline the liver shape. The model is then automatically deformed by a Laplacian mesh optimization scheme until it
precisely delineates the patient’s liver. A correction tool was
implemented to allow the user to improve the segmentation
until satisfaction. Results: The proposed method was tested
against 30 CT-scans from the SLIVER07 challenge repository and 20 MR studies from the Montreal University Hospital Center, covering a wide spectrum of liver morphologies
and pathologies. The average volumetric overlap error was
5.1% for CT and 7.6% for MRI and the average segmentation
time was 6 min. Conclusion: The obtained results show that
the proposed method is efficient, reliable, and could effectively be used routinely in the clinical setting. Significance:
The proposed approach can alleviate the cumbersome and
tedious process of slice-wise segmentation required for
precise hepatic volumetry, virtual surgery, and treatment
planning.