Method and apparatus for medical image registration

A image registration apparatus comprising:

• a multi-modality register configured to register a reference image from a plurality of first images captured during a first breathing period and a second image;
• a single-modality register configured to register each of the other first images and the reference image;
• a database (DB) constructor configured to generate registration images between the plurality of first images and the second image based on results of the multi-modality register and the single-modality register;
• and
• a register configured to acquire a third image captured after the first breathing period and to detect an image corresponding to the third image from the registration images.

An image registration method comprising:

• acquiring, at an image acquirer, a plurality of first images captured during a first breathing period and a second image;
• detecting a reference image from the plurality of first images, wherein the reference image has been captured in a breathing state most similar to a breathing state of the second image;
• extracting landmark points from each of the reference image and the second image, and rotating, scaling, translating, or shearing any one of the reference image and the second image based on the other image and the extracted landmark points;
• estimating a shape and a location of an organ or a lesion for the first breathing period based on the difference of brightness information and gradient information between the reference image and each of the other first images;
• generating a plurality of registration images corresponding to the plurality of first images by modifying organ and lesion of the second image based on the estimated shape and location of the first images;
• acquiring, at the image acquirer, a third image captured after the first breathing period;
• detecting an image from the plurality of first images that is most similar to the third image;
• and
• outputting the registration image corresponding to the detected first image.