Automatic localization of the left ventricle from cardiac cine magnetic resonance imaging: a new spectrum-based computer-aided tool

PLoS One. 2014 Apr 10;9(4):e92382. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092382. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Traditionally, cardiac image analysis is done manually. Automatic image processing can help with the repetitive tasks, and also deal with huge amounts of data, a task which would be humanly tedious. This study aims to develop a spectrum-based computer-aided tool to locate the left ventricle using images obtained via cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Discrete Fourier Transform was conducted pixelwise on the image sequence. Harmonic images of all frequencies were analyzed visually and quantitatively to determine different patterns of the left and right ventricles on spectrum. The first and fifth harmonic images were selected to perform an anisotropic weighted circle Hough detection. This tool was then tested in ten volunteers. Our tool was able to locate the left ventricle in all cases and had a significantly higher cropping ratio of 0.165 than did earlier studies. In conclusion, a new spectrum-based computer aided tool has been proposed and developed for automatic left ventricle localization. The development of this technique, which will enable the automatic location and further segmentation of the left ventricle, will have a significant impact in research and in diagnostic settings. We envisage that this automated method could be used by radiographers and cardiologists to diagnose and assess ventricular function in patients with diverse heart diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Anisotropy
  • Automation
  • Cardiology / methods
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Female
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Heart Ventricles / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated*
  • Software
  • Ventricular Function, Left*

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF2011NRF-POC001-068), the National Medical Research Council (NMRC/EDG/1037/2011), and SERC Biomedical Engineering Programme Grants 1211480003 and 1321480012. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.