The digital medical image is a numeric simulation of a realistic medical image. Digital image processing is a computer-based modeling and simulation tool for various image-processing applications. Currently, scholars tend to apply digital image processing methods in medical applications, with the aim of simulating various medical image processing tasks. For example, image reconstruction and modeling techniques allow instant processing of 2D body slices to form a 3D image. Image processing and analysis can be used to determine the position, diameter and volume of a tumor. Computer vision and pattern recognition can help doctors interpret medical images.

However, note that the digital modeling and simulations cannot and should not be used directly in the realistic medical applications. Simulations on image reconstruction should be tested on hardware scanners in different configurations. Simulations on tumor segmentation may have excellent detection rate, but it needs further clinical examination. Simulations on computer-aided diagnosis can only sever as an assistant tool for physicians to make decisions, and it cannot replace a doctor.

This special issue aims to provide a forum for the dissemination of new modeling and simulations results in the field of medical image processing and analysis, with special emphasis on efforts related to the applications of computer vision, virtual reality and robotics to medical imaging problems.

The medical image datasets of interest include those acquired from Magnetic resonance, Ultrasound, Computed tomography, Nuclear medicine, X-ray, Optical and Confocal Microscopy, Video and range data images. Meanwhile the methods of image processing include but not limited to:

Image Visualization
Image Analysis
Computer Graphics
Computer Vision
Pattern Recognition
Computer-aided Diagnosis
Computer-aided Modeling
Image Super-resolution
Image Denoising
Image Segmentation
Image Reconstruction
Signal Processing

Submissions should be original work with valuable scientific contributions, and can neither have been published nor be under concurrent review of another journal or conference. All submitted papers should be written in English and follow the format standards of the Journal of SIMULATION: Transactions of the Society for Modeling and Simulation International.

Each paper will be submitted to a peer review process as a regular paper. Once a manuscript is accepted for publication, it will undergo language copyediting, typesetting, and reference validation in order to provide the highest publication quality possible.

With Best Wishes

Prof. Yudong Zhang
Prof. Zhengchao Dong