Fuzzy representative line tracking algorithm for enhancing 3-D MR cholangiography images

This study introduces a novel method for enhancing MR cholangiography (MR-C) images based on representative line finding algorithm. The method enhances the images using the representative line (RL) of the pancreatic duct. The RL is tracked by finding the most suitable direction that is decided by means of fuzzy inference techniques. The tracking performance was evaluated by computer simulation, and by applying our method to MR-C images of tube-formed phantoms. The results showed that the proposed method could correctly find the RL of the objects. The diameters of the tube-formed phantoms were estimated with high accuracy. Then, the proposed method was applied to enhance MR-C images of four normal volunteers and one patient. In all cases, the pancreatic duct was enhanced clearly.