Automatic detection of structural changes in single channel long time-span brain MRI images using saliency map and active contour methods

This paper introduces a novel method to detect structural changes between MRI scans, without using prior knowledge. After a simple registration step, the method calculates a difference image, based on modified Harris saliency function, which is then used to define change candidates. Localization step filters out false hits with local contour descriptors featuring the neighborhood of candidates. Finally, boundary of the lesion is detected by integration of contour point extraction and Chan-Vese active contour method. Tests on simulated and real data show that the results are very promising.