Background: The Computed Tomography (CT) images of liver have such disadvantages as uneven gray scale, fuzzy boundary and missing, so the commonly used image segmentation model of liver lesions has low segmentation accuracy.
Methods: We propose a new hybrid active contour model based on regional fitting and gradient information for segmenting CT images of liver lesions. Firstly, the problem of uneven gray scale of liver lesions image was solved by local area fitting method, and the gradient information of liver lesions image was integrated to enhance the detection ability of the model on the edge of liver lesions. Secondly, we introduce the region area term, which can keep the image segmentation curve smooth in the process of segmentation, and effectively control the direction and speed of curve evolution. Finally, the performance of the DRLSE model, RSF model and the present model was compared in the segmentation of liver lesions.
Results: It can be concluded from the experimental results that: compared with DRLSE model and RSF model,the average Dice similarity coefficient reached 97.7%, ncreased by 12.7% and 11.7% respectively; the under segmentation rate was 2%, 9% and 17% lower, and the over segmentation rate was 1.6%.
Conclusion: Therefore, the segmentation model proposed in this paper has excellent segmentation performance and greatly improves the segmentation accuracy of liver lesions.