J Korean Soc Med Inform.  2007 Jun;13(2):133-137.

Segmentation of Hippocampus in Human Brain MRI Using Watersnakes

• Lu X
• Luo S

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The algorithm of Watersnakes is used to segment the hippocampus on one slice of MR image.
METHODS
This method integrates the watershed transform and the active contour algorithm. The watershed transform, based on mathematical morphology, is powerful and flexible for segmentation. However, it does not allow the characteristics of region boundaries to be included into the way that active contour algorithm do. So, oversegmentation is in the result, even to hippocampus. For watersnakes algorithm, the primitive contour of hippocampus can be obtained using watershed transform. Based on energy-driven, the contour of hippocampus develops into the ultimate result. In the process of energy-driven, the information relating to characteristics of region boundaries is involved.
RESULTS
The results of watersnakes showed oversegmentation could be avoided, compared to the results of watershed transform.
CONCLUSION
Watersnakes can use the advantage of watershed transform and active contour algorithm to improve the results of segmentation.

Keyword

Watershed Transform; Topographical Distance; Energy-driven; Hippocampus

MeSH Terms

Brain*
Hippocampus*
Humans*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*