A fully-automated method for segmentation of white matter, gray matter, and cerebral
spinal fluid (CSF) and for calculating their respective volumes is disclosed. The
technique preferably uses a T2-weighted scan and a proton-density scan. The T2-weighted
scans are used to highlight those portion of the brain corresponding to CSF. Thereafter,
the proton density images are separated in CSF-containing and CSF-free portions,
in accordance with the T2-weighted images. The CSF-free portion is then segmented
into white matter and gray matter portions. The CSF-containing portion is further
segmented into pure CSF-regions, and regions containing a mixture of gray and white
matter and CSF. After CSF is segmented from this mixture, the white and gray matter
and again segmented, and the respective volumes of white matter, gray matter, and
CSF are calculated. A technique for determining a threshold gray scale value for
segmenting the white and gray matter to assist in the visual identification of
such regions is also disclosed.
