digital image processing for medical applications

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Digital Image Processing for MedicalApplications. Geoff Dougherty, Author.Cambridge University Press, New York,2009. Hardcover 462 pp. Price: $80.00.ISBN: 9780521860857.

Description

This publication is a hardcover editionwith a page size of 7�10 in.2. It isprinted on bright white paper and hasa font that is a bit small for easy read-ing but acceptable. The book is de-signed to cover the full scope of imageprocessing as it relates to medical ap-plications. It is divided into four partseach having multiple chapters. It iswell illustrated with line drawings,grayscale drawings, grayscale images,and color images. This book usesmathematics as a tool to assist withconcept understanding without beingoverbearing on derivations. It also hasthree well-done appendices, a solidbibliography, and an exhaustive index.Of particular note is the inclusion ofcomputer-based activities meant to re-inforce learning objectives.

Purpose

The purpose of this book is to pre-pare junior and senior undergraduatesand first year graduate students to beend-users of image processing andanalysis technology. It seeks to deliveron this purpose by not only instructingthrough prose, but through a wealth ofexamples, exercises, and computer-based activities. It uses mathematicsonly when doing so supports broaderconceptual understanding of the topic.This work seeks to not only explainhow to do a particular process but alsoto give insight as to why it is impor-tant that the process be done.

Audience

The author states that this book isintended for biomedical engineers,computer scientists, radiological sci-

948 Med. Phys. 37 „2…, February 2010

hat the quality of this book extendshat list to medical physicists, digitalrtists, digital animators, and art resto-ation professionals. It also would beppropriate for graduate students inhese disciplines who have an interestn the mathematical and computer-ased manipulation of all types of im-ging. This book does use limitedathematical equations that involve

alculus, linear algebra, convolutions,nd summations so readers should beell versed in intermediate mathemat-

cs.

ontent/Feature

Part 1 is an “Introduction to Imagerocessing” and is consist of fourhapters. The title of this section is ait off in that it is more an introductiono medical imaging than to image pro-essing. It consists of chapters titledIntroduction,” “Imaging Systems,”Medical Imagines Obtained with Ion-zing Radiation,” and “Medical Im-ges Obtained with Non-ionizing Ra-iation.” This section is the weakest inhe book but it does put forward theethod by which medical images are

cquired and as such has a place inhis text.

Part 2 is titled “Fundamental Con-epts of Image Processing” and is con-ist of four chapters. This section ofhe book is a tour-de-force in explain-ng image processing in the spatial andrequency domains. I particularly likehe section on Fourier transforms andheir uses in image processing. Thisection is loaded with fantastic ex-mples that clearly drive home theessages related to image improve-ent through processing in either the

patial or frequency domains.Part 3 is titled “Image Analysis”

nd is consist of four chapters. Thisection extends the concepts of imagerocessing to higher order operations

three-dimensional objects in imagespace as well as characterize imagesinto various parameters. There is anice section on morphologic changesand how these operators perform theirfunctions. There is also an outstandingsection on image segmentation thathas continued to be an area of intenseinterest from a research and a clinicalutility point of view.

Part 4 is titled “Medical Applica-tions and Ongoing Developments” andis consist of two chapters. The first ofthese two chapters gives excellentreal-life examples of the clinical utilityof image processing. This chapternicely ties the concepts taught in thistext to their logical conclusion. Thelast chapter is a bit lacking, but afterthe superb efforts put forth in the priorchapters, this reviewer can give theauthor some license for a tired finish.

The book concludes with threestrong appendices that nicely compart-mentalize the mathematics of much ofthe book to a single location for easyand in-depth study. These include top-ics such as Fourier transforms, settheory, Boolean operators, probability,and concepts related to shape and tex-ture.

Assessment/Comparison

This book is well written, hangs to-gether as a complete work, is coher-ent, easy to read, and makes good onits claims set forth in the preface andintroduction. The book also has abroader audience than the author hasmodestly set forward. The examples,illustrations, and chapter constructionsare outstanding. The two middle sec-tions of the book are its forte, and theindex is useful and complete. Thisbook is a must for anyone going intoimage processing—period.

Reviewed by William Davros, Ph.D.

948© 2010 Doody’s Review Service

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William Davros, Ph.D., is the SectionHead of the Medical Physics Section of theDepartment of Radiology at the ClevelandClinic. The Medical Physics Section is re-sponsible for quality assurance testing for

Medical Physics, Vol. 37, No. 2, February 2010

ll the imaging equipment at the mainampus, affiliate hospitals, and familyealth centers mandated by the Ohio De-artment of Health. He consults with theepartment of Radiation Safety regarding

radiation safety issues. He also overseesthe physics portion of the accreditationprocess of CT, MRI, U.S., and mammogra-phy equipment as directed by the AmericanCollege of Radiology.