Zonal segmentation of prostate using multispectral magnetic resonance images

Purpose: To investigate the performance of a new method of automatic segmentation of prostatic multispectral magnetic resonance images into two zones: the peripheral zone and the central gland.Methods: The proposed method is based on a modified version of the evidential C‐means clustering algorithm. The evidential C‐means optimization process was modified to introduce spatial neighborhood information. A priori knowledge of the prostate's zonal morphology was modeled as a geometric criterion and used as an additional data source to enhance the differentiation of the two zones.Results: Thirty‐one clinical magnetic resonance imaging series were used to validate the method, and interobserver variability was taken into account in assessing its accuracy. The mean Dice Similarity Coefficient was 89% for the central gland and 80% for the peripheral zone, as validated by a consensus from expert radiologist segmentation.Conclusions: The method was statistically insensitive to variations in patient age, prostate volume and the presence of tumors, which increases its feasibility in a clinical context.