Entropy based segmentation of tumor from brain MR images – a study with teaching learning based optimization

•This work proposes the meta-heuristic approach assisted segmentation and analysis of glioma from brain MRI dataset.•A novel two stage approach is implemented based on tri-level thresholding and level set segmentation.•A detailed analysis of well known entropy approaches, such as Kapur, Tsallis and Shannon are presented.•A comparative study between level set and active contour segmentation is presented. Image processing plays an important role in various medical applications to support the computerized disease examination. Brain tumor, such as glioma is one of the life threatening cancers in humans and the premature diagnosis will improve the survival rate. Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) is the widely considered imaging practice to record the glioma for the clinical study. Due to its complexity and varied modality, brain MRI needs the automated assessment technique. In this paper, a novel methodology based on meta-heuristic optimization approach is proposed to assist the brain MRI examination. This approach enhances and extracts the tumor core and edema sector from the brain MRI integrating the Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO), entropy value, and level set / active contour based segmentation. The proposed method is tested on the images acquired using the Flair, T1C and T2 modalities. The experimental work is implemented and is evaluated using the CEREBRIX and BRAINIX dataset. Further, TLBO assisted approach is validated on the MICCAI brain tumor segmentation (BRATS) challenge 2012 dataset and achieved better values of Jaccard index, dice co-efficient, precision, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Hence the proposed segmentation approach is clinically significant. [Display omitted]