Multi-spectral medical image visualization with self-organizing maps

The effective display of multi-parameter medical image data sets is assuming increasing importance as more distinct imaging modalities are becoming available. For medical purposes, one desirable goal is to fuse such data sets into a single most informative gray-scale image without making rigid classification decisions. A visualization technique based on a non-linear projection onto a 1-D self-organizing map is described and examples are shown. The SOM visualization technique is fast, theoretically attractive, and has properties which complement those of projection-pursuit or other linear techniques. It may be of particular value in calling attention to specific regions in a multi-parameter image where the component images should be examined in detail.