Image segmentation based on a shape-guided deformable model driven by a fully convolutional network prior

Image segmentation based on the combination of a deep learning network and a shape-guided deformable model is provided. In various embodiments, a time sequence of images is received. The sequence of images is provided to a convolutional network to obtain a sequence of preliminary segmentations. The sequence of preliminary segmentations labels a region of interest in each of the images of the sequence. A reference and auxiliary mask are generated from the sequence of preliminary segmentations. The reference mask corresponds to the region of interest. The auxiliary mask corresponds to areas outside the region of interest. A final segmentation corresponding to the region of interest is generated for each of the sequence of images by applying a deformable model to the composite mask with reference to the auxiliary mask.