Optimized intensity thresholds for volumetric analysis of magnetic-resonance imaging data (Proceedings Only)

A technique is presented for computing optimal threshold values for volumetric analysis of MRI data, in the presence of partial volume effects and noise. Thresholds are computed from nominal structure intensities, detected from intensity histograms. Histogram modification methods are described to improve the detectability of these intensities. The implementation of the technique is discussed for detection of contours of the brain and the ventricular system. Results are presented of validation experiments using simulated data, generated from MRI scans of a phantom of the ventricular system in the brain, and of six whole-brain MRI scans.