Medical Image Segmentation Techniques: Advances and Challenges

Medical image segmentation plays a pivotal role in computer-aided diagnosis by facilitating the extraction of essential features necessary for disease detection and treatment strategies. The continuous progress in image processing technologies has led to the development of numerous segmentation methods, encompassing traditional algorithms, machine learning (ML)-driven approaches, and cutting-edge deep learning (DL) techniques. This study undertakes a comparative evaluation of these methods, focusing on their efficiency, accuracy, and suitability across different medical imaging modalities. It also delves into prominent segmentation techniques like thresholding, region-based methods, edge detection, graph cuts, active contour models, and convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Additionally, the paper explores ongoing challenges and prospective advancements aimed at enhancing segmentation efficacy in medical imaging.