3D Listless Embedded Block Coding Algorithm for Compression of Volumetric Medical Images

Abstract

This study proposes a compression scheme for volumetric medical images through 3D listless embedded block coding, which is a suitably modified form of SPECK (Set Partitioned Embedded block Coder) algorithm to operate without linked lists and to take into account the high inter band correlation. It is embedded, 3D block based, image wavelet transform coding algorithm, which uses state table instead of linked lists to keep track of the details about  set  partitions and the encoded information, and is suitable for fast and simple hardware implementation. Three dimensional Magnetic Resonance and Computed Tomography images were used in the experiment for testing the algorithm. Experimental results in this work compares compression efficiency of proposed scheme with state of encoders such as 3D SPIHT (Set Partitioning in Hierarchical Trees), 3D No List SPIHT and 2D SPECK (applied frame to frame) to show high competitiveness of the proposed algorithm.