Syntactic reasoning and pattern recognition for analysis of coronary artery images

This paper presents a new approach to the application of structural pattern recognition methods for image understanding, based on content analysis and knowledge discovery performed on medical images. This presents in particular computer analysis and recognition of local stenoses of the coronary arteries lumen. These stenoses are the result of the appearance of arteriosclerosis plaques, which in consequence lead to different forms of ischemic cardiovascular diseases. Such diseases may be seen in the form of stable or unstable disturbances of heart rhythm or infarctions. Analysis of the correct morphology of these arteries lumen is possible with the application of the syntactic analysis and pattern recognition methods, in particular with the attributed grammar of LALR type. In the paper, we shall describe all stages of analysis and understanding of images in the context of obtained features, and we shall also present the proper algorithm of syntactic reasoning based on the acquired knowledge.