Segmentation of the Left Ventricle Using Active Contour Method with Gradient Vector Flow Forces in Short-Axis MRI

In this paper a left ventricle segmentation approach in short-axis MRI is proposed. It is based on an active contour method and gradient vector flow field forces. Firstly, algorithm delineates endocardium using active contour method approach assisted by gradient vector flow field forces. After that, the epicardium is outlined by proposed divergence rays method and corrected by Fourier descriptors to smoothen an epicardium curve. An algorithm has been tested on eight healthy patients and compared to a manual delineation of endo- and epicardium boundaries. Validity of an algorithm is checked by linear regression analysis, correlation coefficients, and RSME errors. Sample Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients between automatic and manual delineation are r(ENDO) = 0.95 and r(EPI) = 0.86. The coefficients of determination and RMSEs are R-ENDO(2) = 0.9, R-EPI(2) = 0.74 and RMSEENDO = 5.303 ml, RMSEEPI = 21.973 ml, respectively. These experiments confirm accuracy and robustness of the proposed approach.