Image Processing

Digital Image Processing

• It means the processing of images using a
digital computer.
• All digital radiography imaging modalities
utilize digital image processing as a
central feature of their operations.
• After the raw image data are extracted
from the digital receptor and converted to
digital data, the image must be computer
processed before its display and
diagnostic interpretation
 Digital Image Sampling
• In both PSP and FPD, after x-rays have
been converted into electrical signals,
these signals are available for processing
and manipulation.
– Preprocessing
• deal with applying corrections to the raw data
– Postprocessing
• address the appearance of the image displayed on
a monitor for viewing and interpretation by a
radiologist.
 Pre-processing techniques
• Intended to correct the raw data collected
from bad detector elements that would
create problems in the proper functioning
of the detector.
• Flat field image
– May contain artifacts
• Artifacts can be corrected by a
pre-processing technique referred to as
flat-fielding.
 Post processing
• The image is converted into the “for
presentation” image that has better
contrast.
• First step – exposure recogntion,
segmentation of the pre processed raw
data,
– algorithms and histogram analysis
• Next step - scaling the histogram
• Last Step - contrast enhancement
 Histogram Analysis
• This is an image processing technique
commonly used to identify the edges of
the image and assess the raw data prior to
image display.
• A histogram is a graphic representation of
a data set.
• The stored histogram models have values
of interest (VOI)
 Histogram Analysis
• Failure to find the collimation edges can
result in incorrect data collection
• Equally important is centering anatomy to
the center of the imaging plate.
– This ensures that appropriate recorded
intensities are located
 Histogram analysis
• In CR imaging, the entire imaging plate is
scanned to extract the image from the
photostimulable phosphor.
• The computer identifies the exposure field and
edges of the images.
• If t least three edges are not identified, all
data, including raw exposure or scatter
outside the field, may be included in the
histogram, resulting in a histogram analysis
error.
 Exposure Field Recognition
• This is one of the most important
pre-processing method in CR.
• It may also be referred to as exposure data
recognition (Fujifilm Medical Systems) and
segmentation (Carestream).
• The purpose of exposure recognition is to
identify the appropriate raw data values to be
used for image grayscale rendition and to
provide an indication of the average radiation
exposure to the IP CR detector.
 Automatic rescaling
• It means that images are produced with
uniform density and contrast, regardless of
the amount of exposure.
• rescaling errors occur for a variety of
reasons and can result in poor-quality
digital images.
 Look-Up Table
• It provide a method of altering the image
to change the display of the digital image
in various ways.
• It provide the means to alter the brightness
and grayscale of the digital image using
computer algorithms.
 Image Enhancement
Parameters
• Gradient Processing
– Brightness
– Contrast
• Windowing is intended to change the
contrast and brightness of an image.
– WW is used to change the contrast of the
image
– WL is used to change the image brightness
 Brightness
• the brightness level displayed on the
computer monitor can be easily altered to
visualize the range of anatomic structures
recorded.
• This is accomplished by the windowing
function
• The window level (or center) sets the midpoint
of the range of brightness visible in the image.
• There is direct relationship exists between
window level and image brightness
 Contrast
• The number of different shades of gray that
can be stored and displayed by a computer
system is termed grayscale.
• Contrast resolution is used to describe the
ability of the imaging system to distinguish
between objects that exhibit similar
densities.
• Window width is a control that adjusts the
radiographic contrast
 Image Enhancement
Parameters
• Frequency Processing
– Smoothing
– Edge Enhancement
 Smoothing
• Also known as low pass filtering
• occurs by averaging each pixel’s
frequency with surrounding pixel values to
remove high-frequency noise.
•a postprocessing technique that
suppresses image noise (quantum noise).
• Low-pass filtering is useful for viewing
small structures such as fine bone tissues.
 Edge Enhancement
• Also known as high-pass filtering
• It occurs when fewer pixels in the
neighborhood are included in the signal
average.
• a postprocessing technique that improves
the visibility of small high-contrast
structures.
• High-pass filtering is useful for enhancing
large structures like organs and soft
tissues
 Exposure Indicators
• It provides a numeric value indicating the level
of radiation exposure to the digital IR.
• In CR, the exposure indicator value
represents the exposure level to the imaging
plate, and the values are vendor specific.
• it is a useful tool to address the problem of
“exposure creep”
• Exposure indicators have been standardized,
and details of the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the
AAPM of such standardized exposure
indicator
 Dose Area product
• It is the quantity that reflects not only the
dose but also the volume of tissue
irradiated.
• It is an indicator of risk and is expressed
as cGy-cm^2
• DAP increases with increasing field size
– Directly proportional to each other
 Vendor Specific Exposure
Indicator
• Fuji and Konica use sensitivity (S) numbers,
and the value is inversely related to the
exposure to the plate.
• Carestream (Kodak) uses exposure index (EI)
numbers; the value is directly related to the
exposure to the plate, and the changes are
logarithmic expressions
• Agfa uses log median (lgM) numbers; the
value is directly related to exposure to the
plate, and changes are also logarithmic
expressions