An automatic and fast centerline extraction algorithm for virtual colonoscopy.

This paper introduces a new refined centerline extraction algorithm, which is based on and significantly improved from distance mapping algorithms. The new approach include three major parts: employing a colon segmentation method; designing and realizing a fast Euclidean Transform algorithm and inducting boundary voxels cutting (BVC) approach. The main contribution is the BVC processing, which greatly speeds up the Dijkstra algorithm and improves the whole performance of the new algorithm. Experimental results demonstrate that the new centerline algorithm was more efficient and accurate comparing with existing algorithms.