Prostate segmentation in MR images using ensemble deep convolutional neural networks

The automated segmentation of the prostate gland from MR images is increasingly used for clinical diagnosis. Since deep learning demonstrates superior performance in computer vision applications, we propose a coarse-to-fine segmentation strategy using ensemble deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) to address prostate segmentation in MR images. First, we use registration-based coarse segmentation on pre-processed prostate MR images to define the potential boundary region. We then train four DCNNs as voxel-based classifiers and classify the voxel in the potential region is a prostate voxel when at least three DCNNs made that decision. Finally, we use boundary refinement to eliminate the outliers and smooth the boundary. We evaluated our approach on the MICCAI PROMIS12 challenge dataset and our experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms

Deep Learning in Medical Image Analysis

The computer-assisted analysis for better interpreting images have been longstanding issues in the medical imaging field. On the image-understanding front, recent advances in machine learning, especially, in the way of deep learning, have made a big leap to help identify, classify, and quantify patterns in medical images. Specifically, exploiting hierarchical feature representations learned solely from data, instead of handcrafted features mostly designed based on domain-specific knowledge, lies at the core of the advances. In that way, deep learning is rapidly proving to be the state-of-the-art foundation, achieving enhanced performances in various medical applications. In this article, we introduce the fundamentals of deep learning methods; review their successes to image registration, anatomical/cell structures detection, tissue segmentation, computer-aided disease diagnosis or prognosis, and so on. We conclude by raising research issues and suggesting future directions for further improvements