A system and method for defining and tracking a deformable shape of a
candidate anatomical structure wall in a three dimensional (3D) image is
disclosed. The shape of the candidate anatomical structure is represented
by a plurality of labeled 3D landmark points. At least one 3D landmark
point of the deformable shape in an image frame is defined. A 3D cuboid
is defined around the detected 3D landmark point. For each landmark point
associated with the anatomical structure, its location and location
uncertainty matrix is estimated in subsequent frames relative to the
reference anatomical structures. A shape model is generated to represent
dynamics of the deformable shape in subsequent image frames. The shape
model includes statistical information from a training data set of 3D
images of representative anatomical structures. The shape model is
aligned to the deformable shape of the candidate anatomical structure.
The shape model is fused with the deformable shape. A current shape of
the candidate anatomical structure is estimated.