]> Creatis software - clitk.git/blobdiff - segmentation/clitkExtractLungFilter.txx
Debug RTStruct conversion with empty struc
[clitk.git] / segmentation / clitkExtractLungFilter.txx
index 2147b881681934dfd48ae0242c47d0b14c811969..596604b61f44b1f6e1c8c39115f3888a4f069734 100644 (file)
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
   Authors belong to: 
   - University of LYON              http://www.universite-lyon.fr/
-  - Léon Bérard cancer center       http://oncora1.lyon.fnclcc.fr
+  - Léon Bérard cancer center       http://www.centreleonberard.fr
   - CREATIS CNRS laboratory         http://www.creatis.insa-lyon.fr
 
   This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
   - BSD        See included LICENSE.txt file
   - CeCILL-B   http://www.cecill.info/licences/Licence_CeCILL-B_V1-en.html
-  ======================================================================-====*/
+  ===========================================================================**/
 
 #ifndef CLITKEXTRACTLUNGSFILTER_TXX
 #define CLITKEXTRACTLUNGSFILTER_TXX
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "clitkAutoCropFilter.h"
 #include "clitkCropLikeImageFilter.h"
 #include "clitkFillMaskFilter.h"
+#include "clitkMemoryUsage.h"
 
 // itk
 #include "itkBinaryThresholdImageFilter.h"
 #include "itkImageIteratorWithIndex.h"
 #include "itkBinaryMorphologicalOpeningImageFilter.h"
 #include "itkBinaryMorphologicalClosingImageFilter.h"
+#include "itkConstantPadImageFilter.h"
+#include <itkBinaryBallStructuringElement.h>
+#include "itkStatisticsLabelObject.h"
+#include "itkLabelMap.h"
+#include "itkLabelImageToShapeLabelMapFilter.h"
+#include "itkLabelMapToLabelImageFilter.h"
+#include "itkExtractImageFilter.h"
+#include "itkOrientImageFilter.h"
+#include "itkSpatialOrientationAdapter.h"
+#include "itkImageDuplicator.h"
+#include "itkRelabelComponentImageFilter.h"
+
+#include <fcntl.h>
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
 template <class ImageType>
@@ -54,6 +68,8 @@ ExtractLungFilter():
   SetBackgroundValue(0); // Must be zero
   SetForegroundValue(1);
   SetMinimalComponentSize(100);
+  VerboseRegionGrowingFlagOff();
+  RemoveSmallLabelBeforeSeparationFlagOn();
 
   // Step 1 default values
   SetUpperThreshold(-300);
@@ -66,10 +82,15 @@ ExtractLungFilter():
   SetLabelizeParameters1(p1);
 
   // Step 2 default values
-  SetUpperThresholdForTrachea(-900);
+  SetTracheaSeedAlgorithm(0);
+  SetUpperThresholdForTrachea(-700);
   SetMultiplierForTrachea(5);
   SetThresholdStepSizeForTrachea(64);
   SetNumberOfSlicesToSkipBeforeSearchingSeed(0);
+  TracheaVolumeMustBeCheckedFlagOn();
+  SetNumSlices(50);
+  SetMaxElongation(0.5);
+  SetSeedPreProcessingThreshold(-400); 
   
   // Step 3 default values
   SetNumberOfHistogramBins(500);
@@ -88,11 +109,12 @@ ExtractLungFilter():
   SetLabelizeParameters3(p3);
   
   // Step 5
-  OpenCloseOff();
+  OpenCloseFlagOff();
   SetOpenCloseRadius(1);
   
   // Step 6
-  FillHolesOn();
+  FillHolesFlagOn();
+  AutoCropOn();
 }
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -112,55 +134,21 @@ SetInput(const ImageType * image)
 template <class ImageType>
 void 
 clitk::ExtractLungFilter<ImageType>::
-AddSeed(InternalIndexType s) 
+//AddSeed(InternalIndexType s) 
+AddSeed(InputImagePointType s) 
 { 
-  m_Seeds.push_back(s);
+  m_SeedsInMM.push_back(s);
 }
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
 template <class ImageType>
-template<class ArgsInfoType>
 void 
 clitk::ExtractLungFilter<ImageType>::
-SetArgsInfo(ArgsInfoType mArgsInfo)
-{
-  SetVerboseOption_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetVerboseStep_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetWriteStep_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetVerboseWarningOff_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-
-  SetAFDBFilename_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetOutputLungFilename_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetOutputTracheaFilename_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-
-  SetUpperThreshold_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetLowerThreshold_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetNumberOfSlicesToSkipBeforeSearchingSeed_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetLabelizeParameters1_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  if (!mArgsInfo.remove1_given) {
-    GetLabelizeParameters1()->AddLabelToRemove(2); 
-    if (GetVerboseOption()) VerboseOption("remove1", 2);
-  }
-
-  SetUpperThresholdForTrachea_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetMultiplierForTrachea_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetThresholdStepSizeForTrachea_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  AddSeed_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-
-  SetMinimalComponentSize_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  
-  SetNumberOfHistogramBins_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetLabelizeParameters2_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-
-  SetRadiusForTrachea_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetLabelizeParameters3_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  
-  SetOpenCloseRadius_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  SetOpenClose_GGO(mArgsInfo);
-  
-  SetFillHoles_GGO(mArgsInfo);
+AddSeedInPixels(InternalIndexType s) 
+{ 
+  m_Seeds.push_back(s);
 }
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -171,6 +159,7 @@ void
 clitk::ExtractLungFilter<ImageType>::
 GenerateOutputInformation() 
 { 
+  clitk::PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "Initial memory"); // OK
   Superclass::GenerateOutputInformation();
   
   // Read DB
@@ -178,26 +167,57 @@ GenerateOutputInformation()
 
   // Get input pointers
   input   = dynamic_cast<const ImageType*>(itk::ProcessObject::GetInput(0));
-  patient = GetAFDB()->template GetImage <MaskImageType>("patient");  
+  patient = GetAFDB()->template GetImage <MaskImageType>("Patient");  
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After reading patient"); // OK
 
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   // Crop input like patient image (must have the same spacing)
-  StartNewStep("Crop input image to 'patient' extends");
+  // It copy the input if the same are the same
+  StartNewStep("Copy and crop input image to 'patient' extends");
   typedef clitk::CropLikeImageFilter<ImageType> CropImageFilter;
   typename CropImageFilter::Pointer cropFilter = CropImageFilter::New();
+  // cropFilter->ReleaseDataFlagOn(); // NO=seg fault !!
   cropFilter->SetInput(input);
   cropFilter->SetCropLikeImage(patient);
   cropFilter->Update();
   working_input = cropFilter->GetOutput();
+  //  cropFilter->Delete(); // NO !!!! if yes, sg fault, Cropfilter is buggy !??
   StopCurrentStep<ImageType>(working_input);
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After crop"); // OK, slightly more than a copy of input
+
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   StartNewStep("Set background to initial image");
   working_input = SetBackground<ImageType, MaskImageType>
-    (working_input, patient, GetPatientMaskBackgroundValue(), -1000);
+    (working_input, patient, GetPatientMaskBackgroundValue(), -1000, true);
+
+  // Pad images with air to prevent patient touching the image border
+  static const unsigned int Dim = ImageType::ImageDimension;
+  typedef itk::ConstantPadImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType> PadFilterType;
+  typename PadFilterType::Pointer padFilter = PadFilterType::New();
+  padFilter->SetInput(working_input);
+  padFilter->SetConstant(-1000);
+  typename ImageType::SizeType bounds;
+  for (unsigned i = 0; i < Dim - 1; ++i)
+    bounds[i] = 1;
+  bounds[Dim - 1] = 0;
+  padFilter->SetPadLowerBound(bounds);
+  padFilter->SetPadUpperBound(bounds);
+  padFilter->Update();
+  working_input = padFilter->GetOutput();
+
   StopCurrentStep<ImageType>(working_input);
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After set bg"); // OK, additional mem = 0
+
+  /*
+  // We do not need patient mask anymore, release memory 
+  GetAFDB()->template ReleaseImage<MaskImageType>("Patient");
+  DD(patient->GetReferenceCount());
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After delete patient"); // OK, additional mem = 0
+  patient->Delete();
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After delete patient"); // OK, additional mem = 0
+  */
 
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -209,33 +229,41 @@ GenerateOutputInformation()
     }
   }
   // Threshold to get air
-  typedef itk::BinaryThresholdImageFilter<ImageType, InternalImageType> InputBinarizeFilterType; 
-  typename InputBinarizeFilterType::Pointer binarizeFilter=InputBinarizeFilterType::New();
+  typedef itk::BinaryThresholdImageFilter<ImageType, MaskImageType> InputBinarizeFilterType; 
+  typename InputBinarizeFilterType::Pointer binarizeFilter = InputBinarizeFilterType::New();
   binarizeFilter->SetInput(working_input);
   if (m_UseLowerThreshold) binarizeFilter->SetLowerThreshold(m_LowerThreshold);
+  // binarizeFilter->CanRunInPlace() is false
   binarizeFilter->SetUpperThreshold(m_UpperThreshold);
-  binarizeFilter ->SetInsideValue(this->GetForegroundValue());
-  binarizeFilter ->SetOutsideValue(this->GetBackgroundValue());
+  binarizeFilter->SetInsideValue(this->GetForegroundValue());
+  binarizeFilter->SetOutsideValue(this->GetBackgroundValue());
   binarizeFilter->Update();
-  working_image = binarizeFilter->GetOutput();
-  
-  // Labelize and keep right labels
-  working_image = Labelize<InternalImageType>(working_image, GetBackgroundValue(), true, GetMinimalComponentSize());
+  working_mask = binarizeFilter->GetOutput();
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After Binarizefilter"); // OK, additional mem is one mask image
 
-  working_image = RemoveLabels<InternalImageType>
-    (working_image, GetBackgroundValue(), GetLabelizeParameters1()->GetLabelsToRemove());
+  // Labelize and keep right labels
+  working_mask = 
+    Labelize<MaskImageType>
+    (working_mask, GetBackgroundValue(), true, GetMinimalComponentSize());
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After Labelize"); // BUG ? additional mem around 1 time the input ? 
+  
+  working_mask = RemoveLabels<MaskImageType>
+    (working_mask, GetBackgroundValue(), GetLabelizeParameters1()->GetLabelsToRemove());
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After RemoveLabels"); // OK additional mem = 0
 
-  typename InternalImageType::Pointer air = KeepLabels<InternalImageType>
-    (working_image
+  working_mask = KeepLabels<MaskImageType>
+    (working_mask
      GetBackgroundValue(), 
      GetForegroundValue(), 
      GetLabelizeParameters1()->GetFirstKeep(), 
      GetLabelizeParameters1()->GetLastKeep(), 
      GetLabelizeParameters1()->GetUseLastKeep());
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After KeepLabels to create the 'air'");
  
   // Set Air to BG
-  working_input = SetBackground<ImageType, InternalImageType>
-    (working_input, air, this->GetForegroundValue(), this->GetBackgroundValue());
+  working_input = SetBackground<ImageType, MaskImageType>
+    (working_input, working_mask, this->GetForegroundValue(), this->GetBackgroundValue(), true);
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After SetBackground");
 
   // End
   StopCurrentStep<ImageType>(working_input);
@@ -244,29 +272,34 @@ GenerateOutputInformation()
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   StartNewStep("Search for the trachea");
   SearchForTrachea();
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After SearchForTrachea");
+  if (m_Seeds.empty()) {
+    clitkExceptionMacro("No seeds for trachea... Aborting.");
+  }
 
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   StartNewStep("Extract the lung with Otsu filter");
   // Automated Otsu thresholding and relabeling
-  typedef itk::OtsuThresholdImageFilter<ImageType,InternalImageType> OtsuThresholdImageFilterType;
+  typedef itk::OtsuThresholdImageFilter<ImageType,MaskImageType> OtsuThresholdImageFilterType;
   typename OtsuThresholdImageFilterType::Pointer otsuFilter=OtsuThresholdImageFilterType::New();
   otsuFilter->SetInput(working_input);
   otsuFilter->SetNumberOfHistogramBins(GetNumberOfHistogramBins());
   otsuFilter->SetInsideValue(this->GetForegroundValue());
   otsuFilter->SetOutsideValue(this->GetBackgroundValue());
   otsuFilter->Update();
-  working_image =  otsuFilter->GetOutput();
+  working_mask =  otsuFilter->GetOutput();
 
   // Set output
-  StopCurrentStep<InternalImageType>(working_image);
+  StopCurrentStep<MaskImageType>(working_mask);
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After Otsufilter");
 
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   StartNewStep("Select labels");
   // Keep right labels
-  working_image = LabelizeAndSelectLabels<InternalImageType>
-    (working_image
+  working_mask = LabelizeAndSelectLabels<MaskImageType>
+    (working_mask
      GetBackgroundValue(), 
      GetForegroundValue(), 
      false, 
@@ -274,15 +307,17 @@ GenerateOutputInformation()
      GetLabelizeParameters2());
 
   // Set output
-  StopCurrentStep<InternalImageType>(working_image);
+  StopCurrentStep<MaskImageType>(working_mask);
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After LabelizeAndSelectLabels");
   
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   if (m_Seeds.size() != 0) { // if ==0 ->no trachea found
     StartNewStep("Remove the trachea");
     // Set the trachea
-    working_image = SetBackground<InternalImageType, InternalImageType>
-      (working_image, trachea_tmp, 1, -1);
+    working_mask = SetBackground<MaskImageType, MaskImageType>
+      (working_mask, trachea, 1, -1, true);
+    PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After SetBackground");
   
     // Dilate the trachea 
     static const unsigned int Dim = ImageType::ImageDimension;
@@ -290,27 +325,28 @@ GenerateOutputInformation()
     KernelType structuringElement;
     structuringElement.SetRadius(GetRadiusForTrachea());
     structuringElement.CreateStructuringElement();
-    typedef clitk::ConditionalBinaryDilateImageFilter<InternalImageType, InternalImageType, KernelType> ConditionalBinaryDilateImageFilterType;
+    typedef clitk::ConditionalBinaryDilateImageFilter<MaskImageType, MaskImageType, KernelType> ConditionalBinaryDilateImageFilterType;
     typename ConditionalBinaryDilateImageFilterType::Pointer dilateFilter = ConditionalBinaryDilateImageFilterType::New();
     dilateFilter->SetBoundaryToForeground(false);
     dilateFilter->SetKernel(structuringElement);
     dilateFilter->SetBackgroundValue (1);
     dilateFilter->SetForegroundValue (-1);
-    dilateFilter->SetInput (working_image);
+    dilateFilter->SetInput (working_mask);
     dilateFilter->Update();
-    working_image = dilateFilter->GetOutput();  
+    working_mask = dilateFilter->GetOutput();  
+    PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After dilate");
     
     // Set trachea with dilatation
-    trachea_tmp = SetBackground<InternalImageType, InternalImageType>
-      (trachea_tmp, working_image, -1, this->GetForegroundValue()); 
+    trachea = SetBackground<MaskImageType, MaskImageType>
+      (trachea, working_mask, -1, this->GetForegroundValue(), true); 
 
     // Remove the trachea
-    working_image = SetBackground<InternalImageType, InternalImageType>
-      (working_image, working_image, -1, this->GetBackgroundValue());  
+    working_mask = SetBackground<MaskImageType, MaskImageType>
+      (working_mask, working_mask, -1, this->GetBackgroundValue(), true);  
     
     // Label
-    working_image = LabelizeAndSelectLabels<InternalImageType>
-      (working_image
+    working_mask = LabelizeAndSelectLabels<MaskImageType>
+      (working_mask
        GetBackgroundValue(), 
        GetForegroundValue(), 
        false, 
@@ -318,40 +354,57 @@ GenerateOutputInformation()
        GetLabelizeParameters3());
     
     // Set output
-    StopCurrentStep<InternalImageType>(working_image);
+    StopCurrentStep<MaskImageType>(working_mask);
   }
 
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
-  typedef clitk::AutoCropFilter<InternalImageType> AutoCropFilterType;
-  typename AutoCropFilterType::Pointer autocropFilter = AutoCropFilterType::New();
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "before autocropfilter");
   if (m_Seeds.size() != 0) { // if ==0 ->no trachea found
-    StartNewStep("Cropping trachea");
-    autocropFilter->SetInput(trachea_tmp);
-    autocropFilter->Update(); // Needed
-    typedef itk::CastImageFilter<InternalImageType, MaskImageType> CastImageFilterType;
-    typename CastImageFilterType::Pointer caster= CastImageFilterType::New();
-    caster->SetInput(autocropFilter->GetOutput());
-    caster->Update();   
-    trachea = caster->GetOutput();
+    if (GetAutoCrop())
+      trachea = clitk::AutoCrop<MaskImageType>(trachea, GetBackgroundValue());
+    else
+    {
+      // Remove Padding region
+      typedef itk::CropImageFilter<MaskImageType, MaskImageType> CropFilterType;
+      typename CropFilterType::Pointer cropFilter = CropFilterType::New();
+      cropFilter->SetInput(trachea);
+      cropFilter->SetLowerBoundaryCropSize(bounds);
+      cropFilter->SetUpperBoundaryCropSize(bounds);
+      cropFilter->Update();
+      trachea = cropFilter->GetOutput();
+    }
     StopCurrentStep<MaskImageType>(trachea);  
+    PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "after delete trachea");
   }
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "after delete trachea");
 
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   StartNewStep("Cropping lung");
-  typename AutoCropFilterType::Pointer autocropFilter2 = AutoCropFilterType::New(); // Needed to reset pipeline
-  autocropFilter2->SetInput(working_image);
-  autocropFilter2->Update();   
-  working_image = autocropFilter2->GetOutput();
-  StopCurrentStep<InternalImageType>(working_image);
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "Before Autocropfilter");
+  if (GetAutoCrop())
+    working_mask = clitk::AutoCrop<MaskImageType>(working_mask, GetBackgroundValue());
+  else
+  {
+    // Remove Padding region
+    typedef itk::CropImageFilter<MaskImageType, MaskImageType> CropFilterType;
+    typename CropFilterType::Pointer cropFilter = CropFilterType::New();
+    cropFilter->SetInput(working_mask);
+    cropFilter->SetLowerBoundaryCropSize(bounds);
+    cropFilter->SetUpperBoundaryCropSize(bounds);
+    cropFilter->Update();
+    working_mask = cropFilter->GetOutput();
+  }
+  StopCurrentStep<MaskImageType>(working_mask);
 
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   // Final OpenClose
-  if (GetOpenClose()) {
+  if (GetOpenCloseFlag()) {
     StartNewStep("Open/Close"); 
-
+    PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "Before OpenClose");
+  
     // Structuring element
     typedef itk::BinaryBallStructuringElement<InternalPixelType, ImageDimension> KernelType;
     KernelType structuringElement;
@@ -359,97 +412,136 @@ GenerateOutputInformation()
     structuringElement.CreateStructuringElement();
        
     // Open
-    typedef itk::BinaryMorphologicalOpeningImageFilter<InternalImageType, InternalImageType, KernelType> OpenFilterType;
+    typedef itk::BinaryMorphologicalOpeningImageFilter<MaskImageType, InternalImageType, KernelType> OpenFilterType;
     typename OpenFilterType::Pointer openFilter = OpenFilterType::New();
-    openFilter->SetInput(working_image);
+    openFilter->SetInput(working_mask);
     openFilter->SetBackgroundValue(GetBackgroundValue());
     openFilter->SetForegroundValue(GetForegroundValue());
     openFilter->SetKernel(structuringElement);
        
     // Close
-    typedef itk::BinaryMorphologicalClosingImageFilter<InternalImageType, InternalImageType, KernelType> CloseFilterType;
+    typedef itk::BinaryMorphologicalClosingImageFilter<MaskImageType, MaskImageType, KernelType> CloseFilterType;
     typename CloseFilterType::Pointer closeFilter = CloseFilterType::New();
     closeFilter->SetInput(openFilter->GetOutput());
     closeFilter->SetSafeBorder(true);
     closeFilter->SetForegroundValue(GetForegroundValue());
     closeFilter->SetKernel(structuringElement);
     closeFilter->Update();
-    working_image = closeFilter->GetOutput();
+    working_mask = closeFilter->GetOutput();
   }
 
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   //--------------------------------------------------------------------
   // Fill Lungs
-  if (GetFillHoles()) {
+  if (GetFillHolesFlag()) {
     StartNewStep("Fill Holes");
-    /*
+    PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "Before Fill Holes");
+    typedef clitk::FillMaskFilter<MaskImageType> FillMaskFilterType;
     typename FillMaskFilterType::Pointer fillMaskFilter = FillMaskFilterType::New();
-    fillMaskFilter(working_image);
+    fillMaskFilter->SetInput(working_mask);
+    fillMaskFilter->AddDirection(2);
+    //fillMaskFilter->AddDirection(1);
     fillMaskFilter->Update();   
-    working_image = fillMaskFilter->GetOutput();
-    StopCurrentStep<InternalImageType>(working_image);
-    */
+    working_mask = fillMaskFilter->GetOutput();
+    StopCurrentStep<MaskImageType>(working_mask);
   }
 
-  //--------------------------------------------------------------------
-  //--------------------------------------------------------------------
-  StartNewStep("Separate Left/Right lungs");
-  // Initial label
-  working_image = Labelize<InternalImageType>(working_image, 
-                                              GetBackgroundValue(), 
-                                              false, 
-                                              GetMinimalComponentSize());
-
-  // Count the labels
-  typedef itk::StatisticsImageFilter<InternalImageType> StatisticsImageFilterType;
-  typename StatisticsImageFilterType::Pointer statisticsImageFilter=StatisticsImageFilterType::New();
-  statisticsImageFilter->SetInput(working_image);
-  statisticsImageFilter->Update();
-  unsigned int initialNumberOfLabels = statisticsImageFilter->GetMaximum();
-  working_image = statisticsImageFilter->GetOutput();  
-  // Decompose the first label
-  static const unsigned int Dim = ImageType::ImageDimension;
-  if (initialNumberOfLabels<2) {
-    // Structuring element radius
-    typename ImageType::SizeType radius;
-    for (unsigned int i=0;i<Dim;i++) radius[i]=1;
-    typedef clitk::DecomposeAndReconstructImageFilter<InternalImageType,InternalImageType> DecomposeAndReconstructFilterType;
-    typename DecomposeAndReconstructFilterType::Pointer decomposeAndReconstructFilter=DecomposeAndReconstructFilterType::New();
-    decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetInput(working_image);
-    decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetVerbose(false);
-    decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetRadius(radius);
-    decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetMaximumNumberOfLabels(2);
-    decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetMinimumObjectSize(this->GetMinimalComponentSize());
-    decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetMinimumNumberOfIterations(1);
-    decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetBackgroundValue(this->GetBackgroundValue());
-    decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetForegroundValue(this->GetForegroundValue());
-    decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetFullyConnected(true);
-    decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetNumberOfNewLabels(1);
-    decomposeAndReconstructFilter->Update();
-    working_image = decomposeAndReconstructFilter->GetOutput();      
+  if (GetSeparateLungsFlag()) {
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------
+    StartNewStep("Separate Left/Right lungs");
+    PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "Before Separate");
+    // Initial label
+    working_mask = Labelize<MaskImageType>(working_mask, 
+                                          GetBackgroundValue(), 
+                                          false, 
+                                          GetMinimalComponentSize());
+
+    PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After Labelize");
+
+    // Count the labels
+    typedef itk::StatisticsImageFilter<MaskImageType> StatisticsImageFilterType;
+    typename StatisticsImageFilterType::Pointer statisticsImageFilter=StatisticsImageFilterType::New();
+    statisticsImageFilter->SetInput(working_mask);
+    statisticsImageFilter->Update();
+    unsigned int initialNumberOfLabels = statisticsImageFilter->GetMaximum();
+    working_mask = statisticsImageFilter->GetOutput();     
+    PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After count label");
+
+    // If already 2 labels, but a too big differences, remove the
+    // smalest one (sometimes appends with the stomach
+    if (initialNumberOfLabels >1) {
+      if (GetRemoveSmallLabelBeforeSeparationFlag()) {
+        typedef itk::RelabelComponentImageFilter<MaskImageType, MaskImageType> RelabelFilterType;
+        typename RelabelFilterType::Pointer relabelFilter = RelabelFilterType::New();
+        relabelFilter->SetInput(working_mask);
+        relabelFilter->SetMinimumObjectSize(10);
+        relabelFilter->Update();
+        const std::vector<float> & a = relabelFilter->GetSizeOfObjectsInPhysicalUnits();
+        std::vector<MaskImagePixelType> remove_label;
+        for(unsigned int i=1; i<a.size(); i++) {
+          if (a[i] < 0.5*a[0]) { // more than 0.5 difference
+            remove_label.push_back(i+1); // label zero is BG
+          }
+        }
+        working_mask = 
+          clitk::RemoveLabels<MaskImageType>(working_mask, GetBackgroundValue(), remove_label);
+        statisticsImageFilter->SetInput(working_mask);
+        statisticsImageFilter->Update();
+        initialNumberOfLabels = statisticsImageFilter->GetMaximum();
+      }
+    }
+  
+    // Decompose the first label
+    if (initialNumberOfLabels<2) {
+      // Structuring element radius
+      typename ImageType::SizeType radius;
+      for (unsigned int i=0;i<Dim;i++) radius[i]=1;
+      typedef clitk::DecomposeAndReconstructImageFilter<MaskImageType,MaskImageType> DecomposeAndReconstructFilterType;
+      typename DecomposeAndReconstructFilterType::Pointer decomposeAndReconstructFilter=DecomposeAndReconstructFilterType::New();
+      decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetInput(working_mask);
+      decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetVerbose(false);
+      decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetRadius(radius);
+      decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetMaximumNumberOfLabels(2);
+      decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetMinimumObjectSize(this->GetMinimalComponentSize());
+      decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetMinimumNumberOfIterations(1);
+      decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetBackgroundValue(this->GetBackgroundValue());
+      decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetForegroundValue(this->GetForegroundValue());
+      decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetFullyConnected(true);
+      decomposeAndReconstructFilter->SetNumberOfNewLabels(1);
+      decomposeAndReconstructFilter->Update();
+      working_mask = decomposeAndReconstructFilter->GetOutput();      
+    }
+    PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After decomposeAndReconstructFilter");
   }
 
   // Retain labels ('1' is largset lung, so right. '2' is left)
-  typedef itk::ThresholdImageFilter<InternalImageType> ThresholdImageFilterType;
+  typedef itk::ThresholdImageFilter<MaskImageType> ThresholdImageFilterType;
   typename ThresholdImageFilterType::Pointer thresholdFilter = ThresholdImageFilterType::New();
-  thresholdFilter->SetInput(working_image);
+  thresholdFilter->SetInput(working_mask);
   thresholdFilter->ThresholdAbove(2);
   thresholdFilter->SetOutsideValue(this->GetBackgroundValue());
   thresholdFilter->Update();
-  working_image = thresholdFilter->GetOutput();
-  StopCurrentStep<InternalImageType> (working_image);
-  
-  // Final Cast 
-  StartNewStep("Cast the lung mask"); 
-  typedef itk::CastImageFilter<InternalImageType, MaskImageType> CastImageFilterType;
-  typename CastImageFilterType::Pointer caster= CastImageFilterType::New();
-  caster->SetInput(working_image);
-  caster->Update();
-  output = caster->GetOutput();
+  working_mask = thresholdFilter->GetOutput();
+  StopCurrentStep<MaskImageType> (working_mask);
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After Thresholdfilter");
 
   // Update output info
-  this->GetOutput(0)->SetRegions(output->GetLargestPossibleRegion());
+  //  output = working_mask;
+  //this->GetOutput(0)->SetRegions(output->GetLargestPossibleRegion());
+
+  //  this->GetOutput(0)->SetRegions(working_mask->GetLargestPossibleRegion());
+
+}
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------
+template <class TImageType>
+void 
+clitk::ExtractLungFilter<TImageType>::
+GenerateInputRequestedRegion() {
+  //  DD("GenerateInputRequestedRegion (nothing?)");
 }
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -461,10 +553,11 @@ clitk::ExtractLungFilter<ImageType>::
 GenerateData() 
 {
   // Set the output
-  this->GraftOutput(output); // not SetNthOutput
+  //  this->GraftOutput(output); // not SetNthOutput
+  this->GraftOutput(working_mask); // not SetNthOutput
   // Store image filenames into AFDB 
-  GetAFDB()->SetImageFilename("lungs", this->GetOutputLungFilename());  
-  GetAFDB()->SetImageFilename("trachea", this->GetOutputTracheaFilename());  
+  GetAFDB()->SetImageFilename("Lungs", this->GetOutputLungFilename());  
+  GetAFDB()->SetImageFilename("Trachea", this->GetOutputTracheaFilename());  
   WriteAFDB();
 }
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -494,7 +587,7 @@ SearchForTracheaSeed(int skip)
       it.GoToBegin();
       while (!it.IsAtEnd()) {
         if(it.Get() < GetUpperThresholdForTrachea() ) {
-          AddSeed(it.GetIndex());
+          AddSeedInPixels(it.GetIndex());
           // DD(it.GetIndex());
         }
         ++it;
@@ -503,7 +596,7 @@ SearchForTracheaSeed(int skip)
       // if we do not found : restart
       stop = (m_Seeds.size() != 0);
       if (!stop) {
-       if (GetVerboseStep()) {
+       if (GetVerboseStepFlag()) {
          std::cout << "\t No seed found this time. I skip some slices and restart." << std::endl;
        }
         if (skip > 0.5 * working_input->GetLargestPossibleRegion().GetSize()[2]) {
@@ -513,13 +606,231 @@ SearchForTracheaSeed(int skip)
         }
         skip += 5;
       }
+      else {
+        // DD(m_Seeds[0]);
+        // DD(m_Seeds.size());
+      }
     }
   }
   return (m_Seeds.size() != 0);
 }
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+
+bool is_orientation_superior(itk::SpatialOrientation::ValidCoordinateOrientationFlags orientation)
+{
+  itk::SpatialOrientation::CoordinateTerms sup = itk::SpatialOrientation::ITK_COORDINATE_Superior;
+  bool primary = (orientation & 0x0000ff) == sup;
+  bool secondary = ((orientation & 0x00ff00) >> 8) == sup;
+  bool tertiary = ((orientation & 0xff0000) >> 16) == sup;
+  return primary || secondary || tertiary;
+}
+
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------
+template <class ImageType>
+bool 
+clitk::ExtractLungFilter<ImageType>::
+SearchForTracheaSeed2(int numberOfSlices)
+{
+  if (m_Seeds.size() == 0) { // try to find seed (if not zero, it is given by user)    
+    if (GetVerboseRegionGrowingFlag())
+      std::cout << "SearchForTracheaSeed2(" << numberOfSlices << ", " << GetMaxElongation() << ")" << std::endl;
+    
+    typedef unsigned char MaskPixelType;
+    typedef itk::Image<MaskPixelType, ImageType::ImageDimension> MaskImageType;
+    typedef itk::Image<typename MaskImageType::PixelType, 2> MaskImageType2D;
+    typedef itk::BinaryThresholdImageFilter<ImageType, MaskImageType> ThresholdFilterType;
+    typedef itk::BinaryBallStructuringElement<MaskPixelType, MaskImageType::ImageDimension> KernelType;
+    typedef itk::BinaryMorphologicalClosingImageFilter<MaskImageType, MaskImageType, KernelType> ClosingFilterType;
+    typedef itk::BinaryMorphologicalOpeningImageFilter<MaskImageType, MaskImageType, KernelType> OpeningFilterType;
+    typedef itk::ExtractImageFilter<MaskImageType, MaskImageType2D> SlicerFilterType;
+    typedef itk::ConnectedComponentImageFilter<MaskImageType2D, MaskImageType2D> LabelFilterType;
+    typedef itk::ShapeLabelObject<MaskPixelType, MaskImageType2D::ImageDimension> ShapeLabelType;
+    typedef itk::LabelMap<ShapeLabelType> LabelImageType;
+    typedef itk::LabelImageToShapeLabelMapFilter<MaskImageType2D, LabelImageType> ImageToLabelMapFilterType;
+    typedef itk::LabelMapToLabelImageFilter<LabelImageType, MaskImageType2D> LabelMapToImageFilterType;
+    typedef itk::ImageFileWriter<MaskImageType2D> FileWriterType;
+    
+    // threshold to isolate airawys and lungs
+    typename ThresholdFilterType::Pointer threshold = ThresholdFilterType::New();
+    threshold->SetLowerThreshold(-2000);
+    threshold->SetUpperThreshold(GetSeedPreProcessingThreshold());
+    threshold->SetInput(working_input);
+    threshold->Update();
+    
+    KernelType kernel_closing, kernel_opening;
+    
+    // remove small noise
+    typename OpeningFilterType::Pointer opening = OpeningFilterType::New();
+    kernel_opening.SetRadius(1);
+    opening->SetKernel(kernel_opening);
+    opening->SetInput(threshold->GetOutput());
+    opening->Update();
+    
+    typename SlicerFilterType::Pointer slicer = SlicerFilterType::New();
+    slicer->SetDirectionCollapseToIdentity();
+    slicer->SetInput(opening->GetOutput());
+    
+    // label result
+    typename LabelFilterType::Pointer label_filter = LabelFilterType::New();
+    label_filter->SetInput(slicer->GetOutput());
+    
+    // extract shape information from labels
+    typename ImageToLabelMapFilterType::Pointer label_to_map_filter = ImageToLabelMapFilterType::New();
+    label_to_map_filter->SetInput(label_filter->GetOutput());
+    
+    typename LabelMapToImageFilterType::Pointer map_to_label_filter = LabelMapToImageFilterType::New();
+    typename FileWriterType::Pointer writer = FileWriterType::New();
+    
+    typename ImageType::IndexType index;
+    typename ImageType::RegionType region = working_input->GetLargestPossibleRegion();
+    typename ImageType::SizeType size = region.GetSize();
+    typename ImageType::SpacingType spacing = working_input->GetSpacing();
+    typename ImageType::PointType origin = working_input->GetOrigin();
+
+    int nslices = min(numberOfSlices, size[2]);
+    int start = 0, increment = 1;
+    itk::SpatialOrientationAdapter orientation;
+    typename ImageType::DirectionType dir = working_input->GetDirection();
+    if (!is_orientation_superior(orientation.FromDirectionCosines(dir))) {
+      start = size[2]-1;
+      increment = -1;
+    }
+    
+    typename MaskImageType::PointType image_centre;
+    image_centre[0] = size[0]/2;
+    image_centre[1] = size[1]/2;
+    image_centre[2] = 0;
   
+    typedef InternalIndexType SeedType;
+    SeedType trachea_centre, shape_centre, max_e_centre, prev_e_centre;
+    typedef std::list<SeedType> PointListType;
+    typedef std::list<PointListType> SequenceListType;
+    PointListType* current_sequence = NULL;
+    SequenceListType sequence_list;
+
+    prev_e_centre.Fill(0);
+    std::ostringstream file_name;
+    index[0] = index[1] = 0;
+    size[0] = size[1] = 512;
+    size[2] = 0;
+    while (nslices--) {
+      index[2] = start;
+      start += increment;
+      
+      region.SetIndex(index);
+      region.SetSize(size);
+      slicer->SetExtractionRegion(region);
+      slicer->Update();
+      label_filter->SetInput(slicer->GetOutput());
+      label_filter->Update();
+
+      label_to_map_filter->SetInput(label_filter->GetOutput());
+      label_to_map_filter->Update();
+      typename LabelImageType::Pointer label_map = label_to_map_filter->GetOutput();
+
+      if (GetWriteStepFlag()) {
+        map_to_label_filter->SetInput(label_map);
+        writer->SetInput(map_to_label_filter->GetOutput());
+        file_name.str("");
+        file_name << "labels_";
+        file_name.width(3);
+        file_name.fill('0');
+        file_name << index[2] << ".mhd";
+        writer->SetFileName(file_name.str().c_str());
+        writer->Update();
+      }
+
+      typename ShapeLabelType::Pointer shape, max_e_shape;
+      double max_elongation = GetMaxElongation();
+      double max_size = size[0]*size[1]/128;
+      double max_e = 0;
+      int nshapes = 0;
+      unsigned int nlables = label_map->GetNumberOfLabelObjects();
+      for (unsigned int j = 0; j < nlables; j++) {
+        shape = label_map->GetNthLabelObject(j);
+        if (shape->Size() > 150 && shape->Size() <= max_size) {
+          double e = 1 - 1/shape->GetElongation();
+          //double area = 1 - r->Area() ;
+          if (e < max_elongation) {
+            nshapes++;
+            shape_centre[0] = (shape->GetCentroid()[0] - origin[0])/spacing[0];
+            shape_centre[1] = (shape->GetCentroid()[1] - origin[1])/spacing[1];
+            shape_centre[2] = index[2];
+            //double d = 1 - (shape_centre - image_centre).Magnitude()/max_dist;
+            double dx = shape_centre[0] - image_centre[0];
+            double d = 1 - dx*2/size[0];
+            e = e + d;
+            if (e > max_e)
+            {
+              max_e = e;
+              max_e_shape = shape;
+              max_e_centre = shape_centre;
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      
+      if (nshapes > 0)
+      {
+        itk::Point<typename SeedType::IndexValueType, ImageType::ImageDimension> p1, p2;
+        p1[0] = max_e_centre[0];
+        p1[1] = max_e_centre[1];
+        p1[2] = max_e_centre[2];
+        
+        p2[0] = prev_e_centre[0];
+        p2[1] = prev_e_centre[1];
+        p2[2] = prev_e_centre[2];
+        
+        double mag = (p2 - p1).GetNorm();
+        if (GetVerboseRegionGrowingFlag()) {
+          cout.precision(3);
+          cout << index[2] << ": ";
+          cout << "region(" << max_e_centre[0] << ", " << max_e_centre[1] << ", " << max_e_centre[2] << "); ";
+          cout << "prev_region(" << prev_e_centre[0] << ", " << prev_e_centre[1] << ", " << prev_e_centre[2] << "); ";
+          cout << "mag(" << mag << "); " << endl;
+        }
+        
+        if (mag > 5)
+        {
+          PointListType point_list;
+          point_list.push_back(max_e_centre);
+          sequence_list.push_back(point_list);
+          current_sequence = &sequence_list.back();
+        }
+        else if (current_sequence)
+          current_sequence->push_back(max_e_centre);
+        
+        prev_e_centre= max_e_centre;
+      }
+      else {
+        if (GetVerboseRegionGrowingFlag()) {
+          cout << "No shapes found at slice " << index[2] << std::endl;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    
+    size_t longest = 0;
+    for (typename SequenceListType::iterator s = sequence_list.begin(); s != sequence_list.end(); s++)
+    {
+      if (s->size() > longest)
+      {
+        longest = s->size();
+        trachea_centre = s->front();
+      }
+    }
+    
+    if (longest > 0) {
+      if (GetVerboseRegionGrowingFlag()) 
+        std::cout << "seed at: " << trachea_centre << std::endl;
+      m_Seeds.push_back(trachea_centre);
+    }
+  }
+  
+  return (m_Seeds.size() != 0);
+}
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
 template <class ImageType>
 void 
@@ -527,14 +838,15 @@ clitk::ExtractLungFilter<ImageType>::
 TracheaRegionGrowing()
 {
   // Explosion controlled region growing
-  typedef clitk::ExplosionControlledThresholdConnectedImageFilter<ImageType, InternalImageType> ImageFilterType;
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "Before ExplosionControlledThresholdConnectedImageFilter");
+  typedef clitk::ExplosionControlledThresholdConnectedImageFilter<ImageType, MaskImageType> ImageFilterType;
   typename ImageFilterType::Pointer f= ImageFilterType::New();
   f->SetInput(working_input);
-  f->SetVerbose(false);
   f->SetLower(-2000);
   f->SetUpper(GetUpperThresholdForTrachea());
   f->SetMinimumLowerThreshold(-2000);
-  f->SetMaximumUpperThreshold(0);
+  //  f->SetMaximumUpperThreshold(0); // MAYBE TO CHANGE ???
+  f->SetMaximumUpperThreshold(-300); // MAYBE TO CHANGE ???
   f->SetAdaptLowerBorder(false);
   f->SetAdaptUpperBorder(true);
   f->SetMinimumSize(5000); 
@@ -542,21 +854,25 @@ TracheaRegionGrowing()
   f->SetMultiplier(GetMultiplierForTrachea());
   f->SetThresholdStepSize(GetThresholdStepSizeForTrachea());
   f->SetMinimumThresholdStepSize(1);
+  f->SetVerbose(GetVerboseRegionGrowingFlag());
   for(unsigned int i=0; i<m_Seeds.size();i++) {
     f->AddSeed(m_Seeds[i]);
-    // DD(m_Seeds[i]);
+    //DD(m_Seeds[i]);
   }  
   f->Update();
-
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After RG update");
+  
   // take first (main) connected component
-  trachea_tmp = Labelize<InternalImageType>(f->GetOutput(), 
-                                           GetBackgroundValue(), 
-                                           true, 
-                                           GetMinimalComponentSize());
-  trachea_tmp = KeepLabels<InternalImageType>(trachea_tmp, 
+  trachea = Labelize<MaskImageType>(f->GetOutput(), 
+                                    GetBackgroundValue(), 
+                                    true, 
+                                    1000);//GetMinimalComponentSize());
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After Labelize");
+  trachea = KeepLabels<MaskImageType>(trachea, 
                                              GetBackgroundValue(), 
                                              GetForegroundValue(), 
                                              1, 1, false);
+  PrintMemory(GetVerboseMemoryFlag(), "After KeepLabels");
 }
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -568,7 +884,7 @@ clitk::ExtractLungFilter<ImageType>::
 ComputeTracheaVolume()
 {
   typedef itk::ImageRegionConstIterator<InternalImageType> IteratorType;
-  IteratorType iter(trachea_tmp, trachea_tmp->GetLargestPossibleRegion());
+  IteratorType iter(trachea, trachea->GetLargestPossibleRegion());
   iter.GoToBegin();
   double volume = 0.0;
   while (!iter.IsAtEnd()) {
@@ -576,7 +892,7 @@ ComputeTracheaVolume()
     ++iter;
   }
   
-  double voxelsize = trachea_tmp->GetSpacing()[0]*trachea_tmp->GetSpacing()[1]*trachea_tmp->GetSpacing()[2];
+  double voxelsize = trachea->GetSpacing()[0]*trachea->GetSpacing()[1]*trachea->GetSpacing()[2];
   return volume*voxelsize;
 }
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -584,7 +900,7 @@ ComputeTracheaVolume()
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------
 template <class ImageType>
-void 
+void
 clitk::ExtractLungFilter<ImageType>::
 SearchForTrachea()
 {
@@ -595,38 +911,67 @@ SearchForTrachea()
   // compute trachea volume
   // if volume not plausible  -> skip more slices and restart 
 
+  // If initial seed, convert from mm to pixels
+  if (m_SeedsInMM.size() > 0) {
+    for(unsigned int i=0; i<m_SeedsInMM.size(); i++) {
+      InputImageIndexType index;
+      working_input->TransformPhysicalPointToIndex(m_SeedsInMM[i], index);
+      m_Seeds.push_back(index);
+    }
+  }
+
+  bool has_seed;
   bool stop = false;
   double volume = 0.0;
   int skip = GetNumberOfSlicesToSkipBeforeSearchingSeed();
   while (!stop) {
-    stop = SearchForTracheaSeed(skip);
-    if (stop) {
+    stop = true;
+    if (GetTracheaSeedAlgorithm() == 0)
+      has_seed = SearchForTracheaSeed(skip);
+    else
+      has_seed = SearchForTracheaSeed2(GetNumSlices());
+    
+    if (has_seed) {
       TracheaRegionGrowing();
       volume = ComputeTracheaVolume()/1000; // assume mm3, so divide by 1000 to get cc
-      if ((volume > 10) && (volume < 55 )) { // it is ok
-        // Typical volume 22.59 cm 3 (± 7.69 cm 3 ) [ Leader 2004 ]
-       if (GetVerboseStep()) {
-         std::cout << "\t Found trachea with volume " << volume << " cc." << std::endl;
-       }
-        stop = true; 
+      if (GetWriteStepFlag()) {
+        writeImage<MaskImageType>(trachea, "step-trachea-"+toString(skip)+".mhd");
+      }
+      if (GetTracheaVolumeMustBeCheckedFlag()) {
+        if ((volume > 10) && (volume < 65 )) { // depend on image size ...
+          // Typical volume 22.59 cm 3 (± 7.69 cm 3 ) [ Leader 2004 ]
+          if (GetVerboseStepFlag())
+          {
+            std::cout << "\t Found trachea with volume " << volume << " cc." << std::endl;
+          }
+        }
+        else 
+          if (GetTracheaSeedAlgorithm() == 0) {
+            if (GetVerboseStepFlag()) {
+              std::cout << "\t The volume of the trachea (" << volume 
+                        << " cc) seems not correct. I skip some slices (" << skip << ") and restart to find seeds." 
+                        << std::endl;
+            }
+            skip += 5;
+            stop = false;
+            // empty the list of seed
+            m_Seeds.clear();
+        }
+        if (skip > 0.5 * working_input->GetLargestPossibleRegion().GetSize()[2]) {
+          // we want to skip more than a half of the image, it is probably a bug
+          std::cerr << "2 : Number of slices to skip to find trachea too high = " << skip << std::endl;
+          stop = true;
+        }
       }
       else {
-       if (GetVerboseStep()) {
-         std::cout << "\t The volume of the trachea (" << volume 
-                   << " cc) seems not correct. I skip some slices (" << skip << ") and restart to find seeds." 
-                   << std::endl;
-       }
-        skip += 5;
-        stop = false;
-       // empty the list of seed
-       m_Seeds.clear();
+        stop = true;
       }
     }
   }
 
   if (volume != 0.0) {
     // Set output
-    StopCurrentStep<InternalImageType>(trachea_tmp);
+    StopCurrentStep<MaskImageType>(trachea);
   }
   else { // Trachea not found
     this->SetWarning("* WARNING * No seed found for trachea.");