[Image analysis and processing. Fundaments and applications in neurology and neurosurgery]

In recent years, image techniques have transformed the diagnosis in Medicine. Nevertheless, they are, by now, far from a widespread clinic and surgical use. Beyond the simple picture inspection, DICOM digital files can be explored by using image analysis/processing techniques in a better way. In practice, clinicians and surgeons usually are limited to 'see' pictures delivered by Radiology. However, image analysis/processing techniques allow the 'client' (neurologist or neuro-surgeon) to accomplish interactive image visualizations, multiplanar or 3D rendering, measurements, pathway visualizations, etc. All these tasks, offer a great advantage in diagnosis, surgical planning, teaching and investigation. This paper revise the fundaments of image analysis techniques in order to emphasize their utility, and to widespread its utilization not in the server (Radiological Department) but, principally, in the client side. Some examples of cranio-spinal pathologies are presented aiming to these objectives.