Published January 30, 2025 | Version CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0
Journal article Open

A Comprehensive Strategy for the Identification of Arachnoid Cysts in the Brain Utilizing Image Processing Segmentation Methods

  • 1. General Electric Healthcare Istanbul, Turkey.
  • 1. General Electric Healthcare Istanbul, Turkey.
  • 2. Istanbul Aydin University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Istanbul, Turkey.

Description

Abstract: This study focuses on the segmentation and characterization of arachnoid cysts in brain MRI images, aiming to enhance diagnostic accuracy through advanced image processing techniques. Arachnoid cysts are cerebrospinal fluid-filled sacs located between the brain or spinal cord and the arachnoid membrane. These cysts can be asymptomatic but may also cause neurological symptoms such as headaches, seizures, or cognitive impairments when they increase in size or pressure. Accurate detection and characterization are essential for timely intervention and treatment. In this research, 269 brain MRI images were analyzed using connected component analysis (CCA) and contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE). CLAHE was employed to enhance image contrast, particularly in regions with subtle intensity differences, while CCA facilitated the segmentation of connected regions corresponding to cysts. The smallest connected components were identified and analyzed to isolate arachnoid cysts with high precision. Post-segmentation, quantitative analysis was performed to extract features such as size, shape, and density, enabling comprehensive cyst characterization. Additionally, calculations for area and approximate volume were conducted, providing critical information for clinical assessment. Visual validation of segmentation outcomes confirmed the effectiveness of the applied methods in accurately delineating cyst boundaries. This research addresses a significant gap in the existing literature. While most studies focus on brain tumor segmentation, there is limited work on arachnoid cyst detection and volume estimation. By integrating image processing techniques tailored for arachnoid cysts, this study offers a novel approach to their diagnosis and monitoring. The findings demonstrate the potential for automated diagnostic tools, reducing subjectivity and improving efficiency in clinical workflows. The proposed methodology aligns with advancements in medical imaging and contributes to the development of improved tools for neuroimaging diagnostics, paving the way for more precise and reliable assessments in the detection of brain pathologies.

Files

B103114020125.pdf

Files (479.5 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:49defb8035c26f31dc411cd98ff01317
479.5 kB Preview Download

Additional details

Identifiers

Dates

Accepted
2025-01-15
Manuscript received on 26 December 2024 | First Revised Manuscript received on 03 January 2025 | Second Revised Manuscript received on 08 January 2025 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 January 2025 | Manuscript published on 30 January 2025.

References

  • Bankman, I.; Nizialek, T.; Simon, I.; Gatewood, O.; Weinberg, I.; Brody, W. Segmentation Algorithms for Detecting Microcalcifications in Mammograms. IEEE Trans. Inform. Techn. Biomed. 1997, 1, 141–149, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/4233.640656
  • Litjens, M.; Kooi, T.; Bejnordi, B.E.; Setio, A.A.; Ciompi, F.; Ghafoorian, M.; van der Laak, J.A.W.M.; van Ginneken, B.; Sánchez, C.I. Deep Learning in Medical Image Segmentation: A Review. IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging 2017, 35, 1235–1246, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TMI.2016.2553401
  • Kurkure, U.; Pednekar, A.; Muthupillai, R.; Flamm, S.; Kakadiaris, I. Localization and Segmentation of Left Ventricle in Cardiac Cine-MR Images. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 2009, 56, 1360–1370, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2008.2005957
  • Long, J.; Shelhamer, E.; Darrell, T. Fully Convolutional Networks for Semantic Segmentation. IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell. 2015, 39, 640–651, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TPAMI.2016.2572683
  • Öztürk, N.; Öztürk, S. Bölütleme Tabanlı Yeni Görüntü İyileştirme Yöntemi. Avr. Bilim ve Teknol. Derg. 2021, 32, 975–981, DOI: https://doi.org/10.31590/ejosat.1041197
  • Chan, T.F.; Vese, L.A. Region-Based Image Segmentation Using the Variational Methods: A Review. IEEE Trans. Image Process. 2001, 10, 942–953, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/83.902291
  • Zhang, C.C.; Fang, J.D. Edge Detection Based on Improved Sobel Operator. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer Engineering and Information Systems, Advances in Computer Science Research (ACSR); Atlantis Press: 2016; Volume 52, pp. 129–132, https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/ceis-16/25867843
  • Min, B.S.; Lim, D.K.; Kim, S.J.; Lee, J.H. A Novel Method of Determining Parameters of CLAHE Based on Image Entropy. Int. J. Softw. Eng. Its Appl. 2013, 7, 113–120, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274182255_A_Novel_Metho d_of_Determining_Parameters_of_CLAHE_Based_on_Image_Entropy
  • Garg, D.; Garg, N.K.; Kumar, M. Underwater Image Enhancement Using Blending of CLAHE and Percentile Methodologies. Multimedia Tools Appl. 2018, 77, 26545–26561, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-018-5878-8
  • Zuiderveld, K. Adaptive Histogram Equalization and Its Variations. In Graphics Gems IV; Academic Press: 1994; pp. 474–485, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-336156-1.50061-6
  • Agaian, S.S.; Silver, B.; Panetta, K.A. Transform Coefficient Histogram-Based Image Enhancement Algorithms Using Contrast Entropy. IEEE Trans. Image Process. 2007, 16, 615–624, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TIP.2006.888338
  • Dale-Jones, R.; Tjahjadi, T. A Study and Modification of the Local Histogram Equalization Algorithm. Pattern Recognit. 2007, 26, 1373–1381, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patcog.2006.12.006
  • Kaur, M.; Kaur, N.; Vig, J. Comparison of Adaptive Histogram Equalization and Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization for Medical Image Enhancement. In Proceedings of the 2011 International Conference on Image Information Processing (ICIIP); IEEE: 2011; pp. 1–6, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIIP.2011.6108861
  • Demirel, H.; Anbarjafari, G. Contrast Enhancement of Compressed and Decompressed Medical Images. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 2008, 55, 2163–2167, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2008.919735
  • Pisano, E.D.; Zong, L.; Johnston, R.E. Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization Image Processing to Improve the Detection of Simulated Speculation in Dense Mammograms. J. Digit. Imaging 1998, 11, 193–200, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03168852
  • Bauer, S.; Wiest, R.; Nolte, L.-P.; Reyes, M. A Survey of MRI-Based Medical Image Analysis for Brain Tumor Studies. Phys. Med. Biol. 2013, 58, R97–R129, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9155/58/13/R97
  • Maintz, J.B.A.; Viergever, M.A. A Survey of Medical Image Registration. Med. Image Anal. 1998, 2, 1–36, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1361-8415(01)80026-8
  • Saha, T., & Vishal, Dr. K. (2024). A Study of Application of Digital Image Processing in Medical Field and Medical Image Segmentation by Edge Detection. In International Journal of Emerging Science and Engineering (Vol. 12, Issue 4, pp. 3–8). DOI: https://doi.org/10.35940/ijese.G9890.12040324
  • Pal, N.R.; Pal, S.K. A Review of Image Segmentation Techniques. Pattern Recognit. 1993, 26, 1277–1294, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-3203(93)90135-J
  • Mirra, K. B., Pooja, P., Ranchani, S., & kumari, R. R. (2020). Fruit Quality Analysis using Image Processing. In International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (Vol. 9, Issue 5, pp. 88–91). DOI: https://doi.org/10.35940/ijeat.E9309.069520
  • Cheng, H.-D.; Jiang, X.H.; Sun, Y.; Wang, J. A Survey on Image Segmentation in Medical Imaging. J. Med. Syst. 2002, 26, 459–469, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-3203(01)00054-1
  • Rehman, A.; Saba, T. Document Skew Estimation and Correction: Analysis of Techniques, Common Problems and Possible Solutions. Appl. Artif. Intell. 2011, 25, 769–787, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08839514.2011.607009
  • Rehman, A.; Saba, T. Features Extraction for Soccer Video Semantic Analysis: Current Achievements and Remaining Issues. Artif. Intell. Rev. 2012, 41, 451–461, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-012-9319-1
  • Bahrami, A.M.; Afifi, A.; Yazdani, E.; Mousavi, M.; Moradi, M.R. Automatic Segmentation of Arachnoid Cysts in Brain MRI Images Using Convolutional Neural Networks. Comput. Biol. Med. 2019, 113, 103385, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2019.103385
  • Sharma, Dr. K., & Garg, N. (2021). An Extensive Review on Image Segmentation Techniques. In Indian Journal of Image Processing and Recognition (Vol. 1, Issue 2, pp. 1–5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.54105/ijipr.B1002.061221
  • Hema N, Laxmidevi Noolvi, M V Sudhamani, Liver and Tumor Segmentation Techniques for CT Abdominal Images. (2019). In International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering (Vol. 9, Issue 2S, pp. 555–560). DOI: https://doi.org/10.35940/ijitee.B1051.1292S19
  • A.A. Mariena, J.G.R. Sathiaseelan, Segmentation of Blood cell Images using Hybrid K-means with Cluster Center Estimation Technique. (2019). In International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (Vol. 8, Issue 2S11, pp. 160–163). DOI: https://doi.org/10.35940/ijrte.B1026.0982S1119