AUTOMATIC SEGMENTATION OF PROSTATE, RECTUM AND URETHRA IN ULTRASOUND IMAGING

An ultrasound image of a transverse cross-sectional outline of the prostate gland is acquired. For three-dimensional imaging, a series of images can be taken, one of each slice of the prostate. The initial ultrasound images are pre-processed to remove the noise and increase the contrast. The rectum edge is located from the bottom of the images. The key points on the prostate boundaries are located and connected under the iterative training of a knowledge-based model until the shape of the boundary reaches a stable state. The urethra is segmented near the center of the prostate.