Segmentation of Thyroid Scintography Using Edge Detection and Morphology Filters

This was experimental study conducted to study segmentation of thyroid gland nuclear medicine images using edge detection and morphology filters. For thyroid scintography images each film scanned using digitizer scanner then treated by using image processing program (MatLab), where the segmentation was studied. The scanned image was saved in a TIFF file format to preserve the quality of the image. Thyroid gland can be easily detected in nuclear medicine image if the object has sufficient contrast from the background. We use edge detection and basic morphology tools to detect a thyroid gland. The segmentation of thyroid gland steps using detection and morphology filters were image reading, detection Entire thyroid, Dilation of the image, filling interior gaps inside the image, removal connected objects on borders and smoothen the object (thyroid). The results of this study were that it showed an alternate method for displaying the segmented object would be to place an outline around the segmented thyroid. Those filters approaches can help in removal of unwanted background information and increase diagnostic information of thyroid scintography.