ABSTRACT
Various methods of aligning MR images with images from other medical imaging modalities or other MR images have been described in previous chapters. Clinical applications of registration of MR images to other MR images are currently almost exclusively directed at detecting change in the brain and allied structures. Even with this restriction, relatively few examples in which clinical applications dominate over technical or methodological issues can be found. In this chapter, we will discuss our experience in applying image registration methods to clinical problems. With the increasing availability of MR scanners, more and more patients have repeat examinations, and radiologists are frequently asked to report on changes that reflect the subject’s progression or regression and may require a change in existing treatment or the start of new treatment. We have employed a rigid-body registration technique to monitor change in the brain in individual subjects who underwent serial MRI examinations. This approach allows disease progression and response to treatment to be monitored with great sensitivity. It fits naturally with the noninvasive nature of MRI.
