A computer
automated method that applies supervised
pattern recognition to classify whether voxels in a medical image
data set correspond to a
tissue type of interest is described. The method comprises a user identifying examples of voxels which correspond to the
tissue type of interest and examples of voxels which do not. Characterizing parameters, such as
voxel value, local averages and local standard deviations of
voxel value are then computed for the identified example voxels. From these characterizing parameters, one or more distinguishing parameters are identified. The distinguishing parameter are those parameters having values which depend on whether or not the
voxel with which they are associated corresponds to the
tissue type of interest. The distinguishing parameters are then computed for other voxels in the medical image
data set, and these voxels are classified on the basis of the value of their distinguishing parameters. The approach allows tissue types which differ only slightly to be distinguished according to a user's wishes.