Biomedical Imaging: Principles and Applications

Chapter 1

Evaluation of Spectroscopic Images

Patrick W.T. Krooshof, Geert J. Postma, Willem J. Melssen, and Lutgarde M.C. Buydens

Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Department of Analytical Chemistry/Chemometrics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

1.1 Introduction

Many sophisticated techniques are currently used for an accurate recognition and diagnosis of different diseases. Advanced imaging techniques are useful in studying medical conditions in a noninvasive manner. Common imaging methodologies to visualize and study anatomical structures include Computed Tomography (CT, Chapter 4), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI, Chapter 5), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET, Chapter 7). Recent developments are focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of diseases and the response to therapy. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) (Section 5.12), for example, provides chemical information about particular regions within an organism or sample. This technique has been used on patients with a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, dementia, and schizophrenia.

Examination of the images, obtained by any of the imaging techniques to visualize and study anatomical structures, is a straightforward task. In many situations, abnormalities are clearly visible in the acquired images and often the particular disease can also be identified by the clinician. However, in some cases, it is more difficult to make ...