Fusion of MRI and CT image

Fusion of MRI and CT image fuses complementary information from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) to produce a single image that preserves fine structural detail for improved diagnosis and treatment planning, including brain imaging.

Key Features:

• Guided Image Filter: Uses guided image filters to extract detail layers from MRI and CT while preserving fine structural details.
• Image Statistics: Computes weights for each source image based on statistics of the extracted detail layers to quantify the relative contribution of MRI and CT information.
• Weighted Average Fusion Strategy: Integrates MRI and CT using a weighted average approach that combines modality-specific information into a single fused image.

Scientific Applications:

• Brain imaging diagnostics: Enhances visualization of complementary structural and tissue-contrast information from MRI and CT to support diagnosis of brain pathologies.
• Treatment planning: Produces comprehensive fused images that assist in planning interventions by combining anatomical detail from CT with soft-tissue contrast from MRI.

Methodology:

Detail layers are extracted from MRI and CT using guided image filters; image statistics are applied to these detail layers to calculate weights for each source image; a weighted average fusion strategy combines the weighted images into a single fused image.