Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Vertebral Column Localization, Labeling,
and Segmentation
Raja S. Alomari, Subarna Ghosh, Jaehan Koh and Vipin Chaudhary
Abstract The vertebral column consists of interconnected bone structures that
extend from the neck down to the pelvis. In addition to its crucial functionality in
spinal cord protection, it provides the necessary
flexibility and support for the
whole body. Worldwide interest in spine related research has been increasing due to
the widely spread of related abnormalities in the developed countries which
accounts for over $100 billion annually in the diagnosis, treatment, and associated
loss of wages. Our speci
fl
c interest in this chapter is in the medical image analysis
of the vertebral column. In this chapter, we aim at providing a broader review of the
available literature in vertebral column image analysis. Moreover, we focus on
providing an understanding of the localization, labeling, and segmentation prob-
lems for the various vertebral column structures from the available medical imaging
modalities. Additionally, we describe the general challenges facing the various
solutions for these problems. Our taxonomy is based on the target imaging modality
to simplify the understanding of the broad research in this area.
