Efficient image registration for the analysis of different phases of contrast-enhanced liver CT data

This paper describes the image registration block developed in the hepatic planner HepaPlan. The proposed method is intended to support clinical decisions about treatment of liver pathologies. The initial stage is the segmentation of the liver tissue as well as its internal structures and tumours in contrast-enhanced CT volumes. The second stage is non-rigid motion compensation due to CT data are acquired at different times, in arterial phase and venous phase. This image registration is necessary in order to fusion contrast-enhanced CT data and then to ease 3D volumetric measures, visualization of the liver and tumour, and to make comparisons with studies of the same patient at earlier times.