2010 Winter Project Week Spine Segmentation Module in Slicer3

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Home < 2010 Winter Project Week Spine Segmentation Module in Slicer3

Key Investigators

  • Sylvain Jaume (MIT)
  • Martin Loepprich (University of Heidelberg)
  • Ron Kikinis, Steve Pieper (BWH)
  • Polina Golland (MIT)

Objective

We are developing a Slicer module to segment the region within the thecal sac in MRI images of the spine. Our objective is to provide a segmentation and visualization tool to improve the treatment of disc herniation. The structures of interests are the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), the discs, the vertebrae and the spinal nerves. The CSF has a double role: it acts as a lubricant between the vertebrae and as a mechanical insulation to protect the nerves from outside shocks. The main challenge is to perform the segmentation in a fully automated way.

Approach, Plan

Our plan for the project week is to integrate our code into Slicer 3.5. Our code analyzes the intensity profile of different regions in the MRI and automatically defines the optimum region for the CSF.

Progress

The algorithm has been implemented in Slicer 3.5 as an extension module. This volumetric pattern recognition algorithm is fully implemented as a Slicer module using ITK and VTK. The module has been tested on data sets acquired at Brigham and Women's Hospital using the Wideband Steady-State Free-Precession (WB-SSFP) MRI protocol.

Screenshots

Results of the SpineSegmentation module in Slicer 3.5
Results of the SpineSegmentation module in Slicer 3.5
Double cylinder used for our model-based.
Results of our automated nerve segmentation algorithm. The 3D rendering shows the nerves exiting the spinal cord and the ganglia
Intensity profile for the cross-section of a nerve. The MRI image was acquired using the wideband steady-state free-precession (WB-SSFP) protocol.
Organization of the source code for the SpineSegmentation module. This module is available as an extension module for Slicer 3.5.


References

  • Segmentation using Slicer 3.5, EMSegment module