Level set segmentation of bovine corpora lutea in ex situ ovarian ultrasound images.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the viability of level set image segmentation methods for the detection of corpora lutea (corpus luteum, CL) boundaries in ultrasonographic ovarian images. It was hypothesized that bovine CL boundaries could be located within 1-2 mm by a level set image segmentation methodology.

Methods: Level set methods embed a 2D contour in a 3D surface and evolve that surface over time according to an image-dependent speed function.