Textural segmentation of medical images

The segmentation process is formulated as a configurational optimization problem that is solved using simulated annealing optimization methods. This allows information about the degree of correspondence between a candidate segment and an assumed textural model, as well as morphological information about the candidate segment to be used in the segmentation process. To apply this optimization method, a Gerchberg-Papoulis bandlimited extrapolation fractal estimation technique, capable of processing irregularly shaped candidate segments, is utilized.