A Comparative Analysis of Clustering Algorithms for Ultrasound Image Despeckling Applications

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel framework for speckle noise suppression and edge preservation using clustering algorithms in ultrasound images. The algorithms considered are K-means clustering, fuzzy C-means clustering, possibilistic C-means, fuzzy possibilistic C-means, and possibilistic fuzzy C-means clustering. This work presents an exhaustive comparative analysis of the above clustering algorithms to consider their suitability for despeckling and identifies the best clustering algorithm. Two types of dataset are considered: medical ultrasound images of the thyroid, and synthetically modelled ultrasound images. The framework consists of several distinct phases - first the edges of the image are identified using the Canny edge operator, and then a clustering algorithm applied on high frequency coefficients extracted using wavelet transform. Finally, the preserved edges are added back to speckle suppressed image. Thus, the proposed clustering method effectively accomplishes both speckle suppression and edge preservation. This paper also presents a quantitative evaluation of results to demonstrate the effectiveness of the clustering approach.