M3VR-A multi-stage, multi-resolution, and multi-volumes-of-interest volume registration method applied to 3D endovaginal ultrasound

PLoS One. 2019 Nov 21;14(11):e0224583. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224583. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Heterogeneity of echo-texture and lack of sharply delineated tissue boundaries in diagnostic ultrasound images make three-dimensional (3D) registration challenging, especially when the volumes to be registered are considerably different due to local changes. We implemented a novel computational method that optimally registers volumetric ultrasound image data containing significant and local anatomical differences. It is A Multi-stage, Multi-resolution, and Multi-volumes-of-interest Volume Registration Method. A single region registration is optimized first for a close initial alignment to avoid convergence to a locally optimal solution. Multiple sub-volumes of interest can then be selected as target alignment regions to achieve confident consistency across the volume. Finally, a multi-resolution rigid registration is performed on these sub-volumes associated with different weights in the cost function. We applied the method on 3D endovaginal ultrasound image data acquired from patients during biopsy procedure of the pelvic floor muscle. Systematic assessment of our proposed method through cross validation demonstrated its accuracy and robustness. The algorithm can also be applied on medical imaging data of other modalities for which the traditional rigid registration methods would fail.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Endosonography / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Pelvic Floor / diagnostic imaging
  • Pelvic Floor / injuries*
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders / diagnostic imaging*
  • Vagina

Grants and funding

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.