3Dthermal models: a case study of the neck

This paper demonstrates a computational tool that allows the imaging fusion and registration among different types of images. This approach allows the generation of a 3D thermal models combined with anatomy slices, enabling their 3D visualization altogether. This method can be used to assist in the identification of different pathological patterns, which can be verified based on this image fusion methodology. This research is based on the assessment and monitoring of the neck and its associated thyroid disorders, whether through the identification of nodules, goiter, hyperthyroidism and even cancer derived from these pathologies. The technique used here is based on the combination of three imaging modalities, which are: infrared images, anatomical images (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or x-ray computed tomography (CT)) and a 3D scanner (outer shell geometry). It uses a new approach for diagnosing, which proposes the fusion of infrared images with anatomy images for the investigation of pathologies in the neck/thyroid region. The method consists not only of an innovative technique, but also of a promising area of research, as it can be seen in the results presented here. Therefore, it is able to generate 3D thermal models which are wrapped with anatomical slices, being visualized altogether into a common reference system.