digital image processing for medical applications

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BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS All interested medical physicists are encouraged to have their names added to a list of available reviewers. Please rank your interest among radiation therapy, x-ray, imaging, nuclear medicine imaging, ultrasound imaging, MR imaging, radiation injury, radiation protection, and others. Make your interest known to Dimitris Mihailidis, Ph.D., Books Review Editor ([email protected]). Include your name and e-mail address in the body of the response. Digital Image Processing for Medical Applications. Geoff Dougherty, Author. Cambridge University Press, New York, 2009. Hardcover 462 pp. Price: $80.00. ISBN: 9780521860857. Description This publication is a hardcover edition with a page size of 7 10 in. 2 . It is printed on bright white paper and has a font that is a bit small for easy read- ing but acceptable. The book is de- signed to cover the full scope of image processing as it relates to medical ap- plications. It is divided into four parts each having multiple chapters. It is well illustrated with line drawings, grayscale drawings, grayscale images, and color images. This book uses mathematics as a tool to assist with concept understanding without being overbearing on derivations. It also has three well-done appendices, a solid bibliography, and an exhaustive index. Of particular note is the inclusion of computer-based activities meant to re- inforce learning objectives. Purpose The purpose of this book is to pre- pare junior and senior undergraduates and first year graduate students to be end-users of image processing and analysis technology. It seeks to deliver on this purpose by not only instructing through prose, but through a wealth of examples, exercises, and computer- based activities. It uses mathematics only when doing so supports broader conceptual understanding of the topic. This work seeks to not only explain how to do a particular process but also to give insight as to why it is impor- tant that the process be done. Audience The author states that this book is intended for biomedical engineers, computer scientists, radiological sci- entists, and physicists. It is my opinion that the quality of this book extends that list to medical physicists, digital artists, digital animators, and art resto- ration professionals. It also would be appropriate for graduate students in these disciplines who have an interest in the mathematical and computer- based manipulation of all types of im- aging. This book does use limited mathematical equations that involve calculus, linear algebra, convolutions, and summations so readers should be well versed in intermediate mathemat- ics. Content/Feature Part 1 is an “Introduction to Image Processing” and is consist of four chapters. The title of this section is a bit off in that it is more an introduction to medical imaging than to image pro- cessing. It consists of chapters titled “Introduction,” “Imaging Systems,” “Medical Imagines Obtained with Ion- izing Radiation,” and “Medical Im- ages Obtained with Non-ionizing Ra- diation.” This section is the weakest in the book but it does put forward the method by which medical images are acquired and as such has a place in this text. Part 2 is titled “Fundamental Con- cepts of Image Processing” and is con- sist of four chapters. This section of the book is a tour-de-force in explain- ing image processing in the spatial and frequency domains. I particularly like the section on Fourier transforms and their uses in image processing. This section is loaded with fantastic ex- amples that clearly drive home the messages related to image improve- ment through processing in either the spatial or frequency domains. Part 3 is titled “Image Analysis” and is consist of four chapters. This section extends the concepts of image processing to higher order operations that can markedly alter images and three-dimensional objects in image space as well as characterize images into various parameters. There is a nice section on morphologic changes and how these operators perform their functions. There is also an outstanding section on image segmentation that has continued to be an area of intense interest from a research and a clinical utility point of view. Part 4 is titled “Medical Applica- tions and Ongoing Developments” and is consist of two chapters. The first of these two chapters gives excellent real-life examples of the clinical utility of image processing. This chapter nicely ties the concepts taught in this text to their logical conclusion. The last chapter is a bit lacking, but after the superb efforts put forth in the prior chapters, this reviewer can give the author some license for a tired finish. The book concludes with three strong appendices that nicely compart- mentalize the mathematics of much of the book to a single location for easy and in-depth study. These include top- ics such as Fourier transforms, set theory, 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 on its claims set forth in the preface and introduction. The book also has a broader audience than the author has modestly set forward. The examples, illustrations, and chapter constructions are outstanding. The two middle sec- tions of the book are its forte, and the index is useful and complete. This book is a must for anyone going into image processing—period. Reviewed by William Davros, Ph.D. 948 948 Med. Phys. 37 2, February 2010 © 2010 Doody’s Review Service

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Page 1: Digital Image Processing for Medical Applications

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONSAll interested medical physicists are encouraged to have their names added to a list of available reviewers. Please rank yourinterest among radiation therapy, x-ray, imaging, nuclear medicine imaging, ultrasound imaging, MR imaging, radiationinjury, radiation protection, and others. Make your interest known to Dimitris Mihailidis, Ph.D., Books Review Editor([email protected]). Include your name and e-mail address in the body of the response.

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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-

entists, and physicists. It is my opinion t

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

hat can markedly alter images and

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

Page 2: Digital Image Processing for Medical Applications

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949 949

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.