Segmentation of QUS images of the calcaneus using elastic deformation of flexible Fourier contour

This study investigates a new technique for automatic model-based segmentation of quantitative ultrasound images of the calcaneus. The segmentation process included two major steps : a model building stage derived from interactive segmentation of a sample set of 52 training images and the automatic segmentation of new image data sets via an elastic deformation of contour models. The clinical validation on a database of 256 patients showed that fully automatic segmentation by parametrically deformable elastic models for contour using Fourier descriptors can be achieved with reasonable reproducibility and fracture risk prediction.