3D visualization employing 2D histograms

Combining Intensity and Size of Anatomical Structures

Transfer functions (TF) are a means for improving the visualization of 3D medical image data. If in addition to intensity another property is employed, two-dimensional TFs can be specified. For this, 2D histograms are helpful.

We have investigated how information about the size of anatomical structures can be employed for defining 2D TFs more easily. Furthermore, we have compared this method to approaches which employ gradient magnitude as second property. From our experiments with several medical image data we conclude, that structure size enhanced 2D histograms are more intuitive. This is especially true in the clinical area, where physicians are much more familiar with the meaning of the size of anatomical structures than with the concept of gradient magnitude.