Evaluation of multiple-atlas-based strategies for segmentation of the thyroid gland in head and neck CT images for IMRT

• Published in: Physics in medicine & biology Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 93 - 111
• Main Authors: Chen, A, Niermann, K J, Deeley, M A, Dawant, B M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IOP Publishing 07.01.2012
• Subjects: atlas-based segmentation; head and neck IMRT; Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Laryngeal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Laryngeal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; nonrigid registration; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated - methods; thyroid gland; Thyroid Gland - diagnostic imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Tongue Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Tongue Neoplasms - radiotherapy

Segmenting the thyroid gland in head and neck CT images is of vital clinical significance in designing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment plans. In this work, we evaluate and compare several multiple-atlas-based methods to segment this structure. Using the most robust method, we...