Spectral clustering as a diagnostic tool in cross-sectional MR studies: an application to mild dementia

Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2008;11(Pt 2):442-9. doi: 10.1007/978-3-540-85990-1_53.

Abstract

Structural imaging investigations commonly apply a segmentation step followed by the extraction of feature data that can be used to compare or discriminate groups. We present a framework for such a study based on automated multi-atlas segmentation followed by the extraction of low-level morphological features, volumes and overlaps, for classification. A spectral analysis step is used to transform pairwise overlap information into feature data that relate to individual subjects. Applying the framework to a group of controls and patients with mild dementia, we compare the volume- and overlap-based classification performance using both supervised and unsupervised classifiers. The results indicate that unsupervised classification following a spectral analysis of label overlaps performs very well, outperforming classifiers that use volumes alone.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cluster Analysis*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dementia / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Subtraction Technique