Automatic Detection of Pancreatic Islets in Magnetic Resonance Rat Liver Images

Abstract

This paper presents a novel method for automatic detection of pancreatic islets in magnetic resonance (MR) rats liver images. These islets, transplanted into the liver, are able to produce insulin. Thus this transplantation technique can be used for treatment of type-1 diabetes mellitus. Proposed image processing method enables an evaluation of transplantation process and allows tracing a fate of transplanted islets. Analyzed MR images were acquired using two dimensional acquisition protocol, transplanted islets were labeled with contrast agent to ensure their visualization in liver tissue.