. . .
 About Us Education Research PhD Acta Cybernetica Conferences Sponsors Departments: - Image Processing and Computer Graphics - Technical Informatics - Foundations of Computer Science - Computer Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence - Computational Optimization - Software Engineering - Research Group on Artificial Intelligence [University of Szeged]
 Institute of Informatics>>> Department of Image Processing and Computer Graphics>>> Magyarul

# Selected Publications of the Department of Image Processing and Computer Graphics of the year 2003

BACK TO INDEX

## Books and proceedings

1. Alberto Del Lungo, Vito Di Gesu, and Attila Kuba, editors. 9th International Workshop on Combinatorial Image Analysis, volume 12. Elsevier, Palermo, Italy, March 2003. [WWW] [doi:10.1016/S1571-0653(04)00469-X]
Abstract: The 9th International Workshop on Combinatorial Image Analysis was held between 14 and 16 May, 2003 in Palermo (Italy). Prior meetings took place in Paris (France, 1991), Ube (Japan, 1992), Washington DC (USA, 1994), Lyon (France, 1995), Hiroshima (Japan, 1997), Madras (India, 1999), Caen (France, 2000) and Philadelphia (USA, 2001). The workshop focused on digital topology, discrete tomography, array, graph and parallel grammars, cellular automata, tilings and patterns, combinatorial methods in image analysis, combinatorial problems in the discrete plane, integer-only algorithms for image analysis, and non-conventional computing for image analysis, like genetic algorithms and global optimization. We are very pleased that P. Grirtzmann (Technische Universität Munchen), Gabor T. Herman (City University of New York) and Reinhard Klette (The University of Auckland) accepted our invitations to speak at the Workshop. These proceedings contain thirty-one papers and they provide an exciting cross-section of current research in our field. The editors would like to thank the valuable work to the members of the program committee: Alfred M. Bruckstein, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Israel Jean-Marc Chassery, TIMC-IMAG, France Katsushi Inoue, Yamaguchi University, Japan Yung Kong, City University of New York, USA Kenichi Morita, Hiroshima University, Japan Maurice Nivat, LIAFA, FranceMike Reed, Oxford University, UK Rani Siromoney, Madras Christian College, India Patrick S.P. Wang, Northeastern University, USA Gerhard Woeginger, University of Twente, The Netherlands The editors thank also for the technical help given by Cesare Valenti, University of Palermo, Italy Andrea Frosini, University of Siena, Italy Laszlo Nyul, University of Szeged, Hungary Finally, we would like to thank Peter Hammer for inviting us to publish the Workshop's proceedings online as a volume of Electronic Notes in Discrete Mathematics, and for agreeing to devote a special issue of Discrete Applied Mathematics to IWCIA'2003. The DAM special issue will contain a refereed selection of papers submitted by Workshop presenters after the meeting.

@BOOK{Lungo2003,
PUBLISHER = {Elsevier},
TITLE = {9th International Workshop on Combinatorial Image Analysis},
YEAR = {2003},
EDITOR = {Alberto Del Lungo and Vito Di Gesu and Attila Kuba},
MONTH = {March},
VOLUME = {12},
PAGES = {1-348},
URL = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/15710653},
DOI = {10.1016/S1571-0653(04)00469-X},
}

## Articles in journal or book chapters

1. Gabor T. Herman and Attila Kuba. Discrete tomography in medical imaging. Proceedings of the IEEE, 91:1612-1626, October 2003. [doi:10.1109/JPROC.2003.817871]
Abstract: Discrete tomography (DT) deals with the reconstruction of a function from its projections, when the function has a known discrete range. The knowledge of the discrete range, possibly together with some prior information, can significantly reduce the number of projections required for a high-quality reconstruction. The reconstruction methods used in DT applications are usually based on some formulation as an optimization problem. This paper presents methods and results of DT based on problems of angiography, emission tomography, and electron microscopy (EM).

@ARTICLE{GTHerman2003ProcIeee46,
AUTHOR = {Gabor T. Herman and Attila Kuba},
JOURNAL = {Proceedings of the IEEE},
TITLE = {Discrete tomography in medical imaging},
YEAR = {2003},
MONTH = {October},
PAGES = {1612-1626},
VOLUME = {91},
DOI = {10.1109/JPROC.2003.817871},
}

2. Eric A. Hoffman, Joseph M. Reinhardt, Milan Sonka, Brett A. Simon, Junfeng Guo, Osama Saba, Deokiee Chon, Shaher Samrah, Hidenori Shikata, Juerg Tschirren, Kalman Palagyi, Kenneth C. Beck, and Geoffrey McLennan. Characterization of the Interstitial Lung Diseases via Density-Based and Texture-Based Analysis of Computed Tomography Images of Lung Structure and Function. Academic Radiology, 10:1104-1118, 2003. [PDF]
Abstract: Rationale and Objectives. Efforts to establish a quantitative approach to the computed tomography (CT)-based characterization of the lung parenchyma in interstitial lung disease (including emphysema) has been sought. The accuracy of these tools must be site independent. Multi-detector row CT has remained the gold standard for imaging the lung, and it provides the ability to image both lung structure as well as lung function. Material and Methods. Imaging is via multi-detector row CT and protocols include careful control of lung volume during scanning. Characterization includes not only anatomic-based measures but also functional measures including regional parameters derived from measures of pulmonary blood flow and ventilation. Image processing includes the automated detection of the lungs, lobes, and airways. The airways provide the road map to the lung parenchyma. Software automatically detects the airways, the airway centerlines, and the branch points, and then automatically labels the airway tree segments with a standardized set of labels, allowing for intersubject as well intrasubject comparisons across time. By warping all lungs to a common atlas, the atlas provides the range of normality for the various parameters provided by CT imaging. Results. Imaged density and textural changes mark underlying structural changes at the most peripheral regions of the lung. Additionally, texture-based alterations in the parameters of blood flow may provide early evidence of pathologic processes. Imaging of stable xenon gas provides a regional measure of ventilation which, when coupled with measures of flow, provide for a textural analysis regional of ventilation-perfusion matching. Conclusion. With the improved resolution and speed of CT imaging, the patchy nature of regional parenchymal pathology can be imaged as texture of structure and function. With careful control of imaging protocols and the use of objective image analysis methods it is possible to provide site-independent tools for the assessment of interstitial lung disease. There remains a need to validate these methods, which requires interdisciplinary and cross-institutional efforts to gather appropriate data bases of images along with a consensus on appropriate ground truths associated with the images. Furthermore, there is the growing need for scanner manufacturers to focus on not just visually pleasing images, but on quantitatifiably accurate images. Key Words. Quantitative CT; airways; parenchyma; emphysema; interstitial lung disease; computer analysis; blood flow; ventitation.

AUTHOR = {Eric A. Hoffman and Joseph M. Reinhardt and Milan Sonka and Brett A. Simon and Junfeng Guo and Osama Saba and Deokiee Chon and Shaher Samrah and Hidenori Shikata and Juerg Tschirren and Kalman Palagyi and Kenneth C. Beck and Geoffrey McLennan},
TITLE = {Characterization of the Interstitial Lung Diseases via Density-Based and Texture-Based Analysis of Computed Tomography Images of Lung Structure and Function},
YEAR = {2003},
PAGES = {1104-1118},
VOLUME = {10},
}

3. Tianhu Lei, Jayaram K. Udupa, Dewey Odhner, Laszlo G. Nyul, and Punam K. Saha. 3DVIEWNIX-AVS: A Software Package for the Separate Visualization of Arteries and Veins in CE-MRA Images. Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics, 27(5):351-362, September 2003. [PDF] [doi:10.1016/S0895-6111(03)00029-6]
Abstract: Our earlier study developed a computerized method, based on fuzzy connected object delineation principles and algorithms, for artery and vein separation in contrast enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography (CE-MRA) images. This paper reports its current development a software package'' for routine clinical use. The software package, termed 3DVIEWNIX-AVS, consists of the following major operational parts: (1) converting data from DICOM3 to 3DVIEWNIX format, (2) previewing slices and creating VOI and MIP Shell, (3) segmenting vessel, (4) separating artery and vein, (5) shell rendering vascular structures and creating animations. This package has been applied to EPIX Medical Inc's CE-MRA data (AngioMark MS-325). One hundred and thirty-five original CE-MRA data sets (of 52 patients) from 6 hospitals have been processed. In all case studies, unified parameter settings produce correct artery-vein separation. The current package is running on a Pentium PC under Linux and the total computation time per study is about 3 min. The strengths of this software package are (1) minimal user interaction, (2) minimal anatomic knowledge requirements on human vascular system, (3) clinically required speed, (4) free entry to any operational stages, (5) reproducible, reliable, high quality of results, and (6) cost effective computer implementation. To date, it seems to be the only software package (using an image processing approach) available for artery and vein separation of the human vascular system for routine use in a clinical setting.

@ARTICLE{Lei:2003:AVS,
AUTHOR = {Tianhu Lei and Jayaram K. Udupa and Dewey Odhner and Laszlo G. Nyul and Punam K. Saha},
JOURNAL = {Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics},
TITLE = {3DVIEWNIX-AVS: A Software Package for the Separate Visualization of Arteries and Veins in CE-MRA Images},
YEAR = {2003},
MONTH = {September},
NUMBER = {5},
PAGES = {351--362},
VOLUME = {27},
DOI = {10.1016/S0895-6111(03)00029-6},
}

4. Laszlo G. Nyul, Jayaram K. Udupa, and Punam K. Saha. Incorporating a Measure of Local Scale in Voxel-based 3D Image Registration. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, 22(2):228-237, February 2003. [PDF]
Abstract: We present a new class of approaches for rigid-body registration and their evaluation in studying multiple sclerosis (MS) via multiprotocol magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Three pairs of rigid-body registration algorithms were implemented, using cross-correlation and mutual information (MI), operating on original gray-level images, and utilizing the intermediate images resulting from our new scale-based method. In the scale image, every voxel has the local scale'' value assigned to it, defined as the radius of the largest ball centered at the voxel with homogeneous intensities. Three-dimensional image data of the head were acquired from tenMSpatients for each of six MRI protocols. Images in some of the protocols were acquired in registration. The registered pairs were used as ground truth. Accuracy and consistency of the six registration methods were measured within and between protocols for known amounts of misregistrations. Our analysis indicates that there is no best'' method. For medium misregistration, the method using MI, for small and large misregistration the method using normalized cross-correlation performs best. For high-resolution data the correlation method and for low-resolution data the MI method, both using the original gray-level images, are the most consistent. We have previously demonstrated the use of local scale information in fuzzy connectedness segmentation and image filtering. Scale may also have potential for image registration as suggested by this work.

@ARTICLE{Nyul:2003:IML,
AUTHOR = {Laszlo G. Nyul and Jayaram K. Udupa and Punam K. Saha},
JOURNAL = {IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging},
TITLE = {Incorporating a Measure of Local Scale in Voxel-based 3D Image Registration},
YEAR = {2003},
MONTH = {February},
NUMBER = {2},
PAGES = {228--237},
VOLUME = {22},
}

5. Erich Sorantin, Csongor Halmai, Balazs Erdohelyi, Kalman Palagyi, Laszlo G. Nyul, Krisztian Olle, Bernhard Geiger, Franz Lindbichler, Gerhard Friedrich, and Karl Kiesler. 3D-Querschnittsprofil des Laryngotrachealtrakts. Der Radiologe, 43(12):1056-1068, December 2003. [WWW] [PDF] [doi:10.1007/s00117-003-0990-8] Keyword(s): Image processing - Biomedical computing - Biomedical measurements - Feature extraction.
Abstract: Purpose Demonstration of a technique for 3D assessment of tracheal stenoses, regarding site, length and degree, based on spiral computed tomography (S-CT). Patients and Methods S-CT scanning and automated segmentation of the laryngo-tracheal tract (LTT) was followed by the extraction of the LTT medial axis using a skeletonisation algorithm. Orthogonal to the medial axis the LTT 3D cross sectional profile was computed and presented as line charts, where degree and length were obtained. Values for both parameters were compared between 36 patients and 18 normal controls separately. Accuracy and precision was derived from 17 phantom studies. Results Average degree and length of tracheal stenoses were found to be 60.5% and 4.32 cm in patients compared to minor caliber changes of 8.8% and 2.31 cm in normal controls (p <0.005). For the phantoms an excellent correlation between the true and computed 3D cross sectional profile was found (p <0.005) and an accuray for length and degree measurements of 2.14 mm and 2.53% respectively could be determined. The corresponding figures for the precision were found to be 0.92 mm and 2.56%. Conclusion LTT 3D cross sectional profiles permit objective, accurate and precise assessment of LTT caliber changes. Minor LTT caliber changes can be observed even in normals and, in case of an otherwise normal S-CT study, can be regarded as artefacts.

@ARTICLE{Sorantin:2003,
AUTHOR = {Erich Sorantin and Csongor Halmai and Balazs Erdohelyi and Kalman Palagyi and Laszlo G. Nyul and Krisztian Olle and Bernhard Geiger and Franz Lindbichler and Gerhard Friedrich and Karl Kiesler},
TITLE = {3D-Querschnittsprofil des Laryngotrachealtrakts},
YEAR = {2003},
MONTH = {December},
NUMBER = {12},
PAGES = {1056-1068},
VOLUME = {43},
KEYWORDS = { Image processing - Biomedical computing - Biomedical measurements - Feature extraction},
DOI = {10.1007/s00117-003-0990-8},
}

6. Robert C. Susil, Axel Krieger, J. Andrew Derbyshire, Attila Tanacs, Louis L. Whitcomb, Gabor Fichtinger, and Ergin Atalar. System for MR Image-guided Prostate Interventions: Canine Study. Journal of Radiology, 228:886-894, 2003. [PDF] [doi:10.1148/radiol.2283020911]
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the use of a transrectal system that enables precise magnetic resonance (MR) image guidance and monitoring of prostate interventions. The system used a closed-bore 1.5-T MR imaging unit and enables one to take advantage of the higher signal-to-noise ratio achieved with traditional magnet designs, which is crucial for accurate targeting and monitoring of prostate interventions. In the first of the four canine studies, reliable needle placement, with all needles placed within 2 mm of the desired target site, was achieved. In two other studies, MR imaging was used to monitor distribution of injected contrast agent solution (gado-pentetate dimeglumine mixed with trypan blue dye) in and around the prostate, thereby confirming that solution had been delivered to the desired tissue and also detecting faulty injections. In the final study, accurate placement and MR imaging of brachytherapy seeds in the prostate were demonstrated. The described system provides a flexible platform for a variety of minimally invasive MR image--guided therapeutic and diagnostic prostate interventions.

AUTHOR = {Robert C. Susil and Axel Krieger and J. Andrew Derbyshire and Attila Tanacs and Louis L. Whitcomb and Gabor Fichtinger and Ergin Atalar},
TITLE = {System for MR Image-guided Prostate Interventions: Canine Study},
YEAR = {2003},
PAGES = {886--894},
VOLUME = {228},
}

7. Attila Tanacs and Attila Kuba. Evaluation of a Fully Automatic Medical Image Registration Algorithm Based on Mutual Information. Acta Cybernetica, 16:327-336, 2003. [PDF]
Abstract: Registration is a fundamental task in image processing. Its purpose is to find a geometrical transformation that relates the points of an image to their corresponding points of another image. Many registration algorithms have been proposed in the past decade. We present a fast, fully automatic algorithm that is capable of solving rigid-body registration of 3D images of the human brain where the images are taken by different imaging devices. We joined the Retrospective Registration Evaluation Project conducted by Vanderbilt University, USA. The evaluations of our results show that our method has the potential to produce satisfactory results, but visual inspection is necessary to guard against large errors.

@ARTICLE{Tanacs:2003:Acta,
AUTHOR = {Attila Tanacs and Attila Kuba},
JOURNAL = {Acta Cybernetica},
TITLE = {Evaluation of a Fully Automatic Medical Image Registration Algorithm Based on Mutual Information},
YEAR = {2003},
PAGES = {327--336},
VOLUME = {16},
}

## Conference articles

1. Peter Balazs, Emese Balogh, and Attila Kuba. A fast algorithm for reconstructing hv-convex 8-connected but not 4-connected discrete sets. In Ingela Nystrom, Gabriella Sanniti di Baja, and Stina Svensson, editors, Proceedings of the International Conference on Discrete Geometry for Computer Imagery, volume 2886 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Naples, Italy, pages 388-397, November 2003. Springer Verlag. [PDF]
Abstract: One important class of discrete sets where the reconstruction from two given projections can be solved in polynomial time is the class of $hv$-convex 8-connected sets. The worst case complexity of the fastest algorithm known so far for solving the problem is of $O(mn\cdot\min\{ m^2,n^2\} )$. However, as it is shown, in the case of 8-connected but not 4-connected sets we can give an algorithm with worst case complexity of $O(mn\cdot\min\{ m,n\} )$ by identifying the so-called ${\cal S}_4$-components of the discrete set. Experimental results are also presented in order to investigate the average execution time of our algorithm.

@INPROCEEDINGS{Balazs2003,
AUTHOR = {Peter Balazs and Emese Balogh and Attila Kuba},
BOOKTITLE = {Proceedings of the International Conference on Discrete Geometry for Computer Imagery},
TITLE = {A fast algorithm for reconstructing hv-convex 8-connected but not 4-connected discrete sets},
YEAR = {2003},
EDITOR = {Ingela Nystrom and Sanniti di Baja, Gabriella and Stina Svensson},
MONTH = {November},
PAGES = {388-397},
PUBLISHER = {Springer Verlag},
SERIES = {Lecture Notes in Computer Science},
VOLUME = {2886},
}

2. Xiaowen Ji, Zoltan Kato, and Zhiyong Huang. Non-Photorealistic Rendering and Content-Based Image Retrieval. In Proceedings of the Pacific Conference on Computer Graphics and Applications, Canmore, Canada, pages 153-162, October 2003. IEEE. [PDF]
Abstract: In this paper, we will show how non-photorealistic rendering (NPR) can take a new role in content-based image retrieval (CBIR). The proposed CBIR method applies a novel image similarity measure: unlike traditional features like color, texture, or shape, our measure is based on a painted representation of the original image. This is produced by a stochastic paintbrush algorithm which simulates a painting process. We use the stroke parameters (color, size, orientation, and location) as features and similarity is measured by matching strokes of a pair of images. The advantage of our approach is that it provides information not only about the color content but also about the structural properties of an image without the segmentation of the image. Experimental results show that the CBIR method using paintbrush features has higher retrieval rate than traditional methods using color or texture features only.

@INPROCEEDINGS{Ji-etal2003,
AUTHOR = {Xiaowen Ji and Zoltan Kato and Zhiyong Huang},
BOOKTITLE = {Proceedings of the Pacific Conference on Computer Graphics and Applications},
TITLE = {Non-Photorealistic Rendering and Content-Based Image Retrieval},
YEAR = {2003},
MONTH = {October},
ORGANIZATION = {IEEE},
PAGES = {153--162},
}

3. Zoltan Kato, Ting Chuen Pong, and Guo Qiang Song. Unsupervised segmentation of color textured images using a multi-layer MRF model. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Image Processing, volume I, Barcelona, Spain, pages 961-964, September 2003. IEEE. [PDF]
Abstract: Herein, we propose a novel multilayer Markov random field (MRF) image segmentation model which aims at combining color and texture features: each feature is associated to a so called feature layer, where an MRF model is defined using only the corresponding feature. A special layer is assigned to the combined MRF model. This layer interacts with each feature layer and provides the segmentation based on the combination of different features. The model is quite generic and isn't restricted to a particular texture feature. Herein we will test the algorithm using Gabor and MRSAR texture features. Furthermore, the algorithm automatically estimates the number of classes at each layer (there can be different classes at different layers) and the associated model parameters.

@INPROCEEDINGS{Kato-etal2003,
AUTHOR = {Zoltan Kato and Ting Chuen Pong and Guo Qiang Song},
BOOKTITLE = {Proceedings of the International Conference on Image Processing},
TITLE = {Unsupervised segmentation of color textured images using a multi-layer MRF model},
YEAR = {2003},
MONTH = {September},
ORGANIZATION = {IEEE},
PAGES = {961--964},
VOLUME = {I},
}

4. Kalman Palagyi, Juerg Tschirren, and Milan Sonka. Quantitative analysis of intrathoracic airway trees: methods and validation. In Chris Taylor and J. Alison Noble, editors, Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Processing in Medical Imaging (IPMI), volume 2732 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Ambleside, UK, pages 222-233, July 2003. Springer Verlag. [PDF]
Abstract: A method for quantitative assessment of tree structures is reported allowing evaluation of airway or vascular tree morphology and its associated function. Our skeletonization and branch-point identification method provides a basis for tree quantification or tree matching, treebranch diameter measurement in any orientation, and labeling individual branch segments. All main components of our method were specifically developed to deal with imaging artifacts typically present in volumetric medical image data. The proposed method has been tested in 343 computer phantom instances subjected to changes of its orientation as well as in a repeatedly CT-scanned rubber plastic phantom width sub-voxel accuracy and high reproducibility. Application to 35 human in vivo trees yielded reliable and well-positioned centerlines and branch-points.

@INPROCEEDINGS{PalagyiEtalIPMI2003,
AUTHOR = {Kalman Palagyi and Juerg Tschirren and Milan Sonka},
BOOKTITLE = {Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Processing in Medical Imaging (IPMI)},
TITLE = {Quantitative analysis of intrathoracic airway trees: methods and validation},
YEAR = {2003},
EDITOR = {Chris Taylor and J. Alison Noble},
MONTH = {July},
PAGES = {222-233},
PUBLISHER = {Springer Verlag},
SERIES = {Lecture Notes in Computer Science},
VOLUME = {2732},
}

5. Kalman Palagyi, Juerg Tschirren, and Milan Sonka. Quantitative analysis of three-dimensional tubular tree structures. In J. M. Fitzpatrick and M. Sonka, editors, Proceedings of Medical Imaging 2004: Image Processing, volume 5032 of SPIE Proceedings, San Diego, USA, pages 277-287, May 2003. [PDF]
Abstract: Quantitative assessment of tree structures is very important for evaluation of airway or vascular tree morphology and its associated function. Our skeletonization and branch-point identification method provides a basis for tree quantification or tree matching, tree-branch diameter measurement in any orientation, and labeling individual branch segments. All main components of our method were specifically developed to deal with imaging artifacts typically present in volumetric medical image data. The proposed method has been tested in a computer phantom subjected to changes of its orientation as well as in a repeatedly CT-scanned rigid plastic phantom. In all cases, our method produced reliable and well positioned centerlines and branch-points.

@INPROCEEDINGS{PalagyiEtalSPIE2003,
AUTHOR = {Kalman Palagyi and Juerg Tschirren and Milan Sonka},
BOOKTITLE = {Proceedings of Medical Imaging 2004: Image Processing},
TITLE = {Quantitative analysis of three-dimensional tubular tree structures},
YEAR = {2003},
EDITOR = {J. M. Fitzpatrick and M. Sonka},
MONTH = {May},
PAGES = {277-287},
SERIES = {SPIE Proceedings},
VOLUME = {5032},
}

BACK TO INDEX

Disclaimer:

This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All person copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.