The clique potential of Markov random field in a random experiment for estimation of noise levels in 2D brain MRI

Effective performance of many image processing and image analysis algorithms is strongly dependent on accurate estimation of noise level. We exploit the simplicity and similarity of statistics of human anatomy among different subjects to develop new noise level estimation algorithm for magnetic resonance images of brain. Objects of the experiment are noise‐free 3D brain MRI of 422 subjects. There are 21 slices for each subject. For each slice, total clique potential (TCP) of Markov random field, computed from local clique potential, is indexed by 200 different levels of noise. The sample space is the set of TCP‐noise level data of each slice. The random variable is the set of indices of noise level of TCP in each element of sample space that is closest in numerical value to TCP measured from a test MRI slice. Noise level is estimated from the mean and variance of the random variable. We also report the formulation of a generalized mathematical model describing relationship between TCP and Rician noise level in brain MRI images. Our proposal can operate in the absence of signals in the background and significantly reduce modeling errors inherent in strong parametric assumptions adopted by some of the current algorithms. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 304–413, 2013