Image Fusion Method and the Efficacy of Multimodal Cardiac Images

Currently, there is no single type of medical image that provides an indispensable tool for clinical diagnosis and treatment: Rather, different imaging devices are used for different diseases. Each imaging device has both advantages and disadvantages. To provide a more complete picture and to improve accuracy in diagnosis, techniques that combine images taken by different imaging modalities have recently used more in clinical practice. In addition, researchers continue to develop these techniques. Previously, images taken by different devices at different times were integrated using image processing techniques. After the development of hybrid imaging devices that can connect two kinds of devices, complicated processing by software was reduced. In this chapter, the authors review some representative imaging modalities that are commonly used as diagnostic tools and discuss the use and efficacy of image fusion techniques for clinical use.