# Soft-tissue segmentation: advice needed

**URL:** https://discourse.slicer.org/t/soft-tissue-segmentation-advice-needed/48060
**Category:** Support
**Tags:** segmentation, dicom, totalsegmentator
**Created:** [September 3, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/soft-tissue-segmentation-advice-needed/48060 "2026-09-03T22:20:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Toumia\_Bessedik](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/toumia_bessedik/32/82753_2.png) [@Toumia\_Bessedik](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/Toumia_Bessedik)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/soft-tissue-segmentation-advice-needed/48060/1 "2026-09-03T22:20:55Z")

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Hello,

I would like to get your opinion on an approach I am currently using to refine the segmentation of soft tissues in a head MRI.

I used TotalSegmentator (MR) to automatically segment the soft tissues, particularly fat and muscle. I then defined an external 3 mm layer from the outer surface of the head, which I am currently assuming represents the dermal/skin layer. The remaining soft-tissue regions that are not classified as fat or muscle were grouped into a fourth region that I called “Others”.

This gives me four distinct material regions:

- Skin/dermal layer: 3 mm external layer

- Fat

- Muscle

- Others

This is part of a research project focused on hearing protection and the study of sound propagation through the tissues of the head. The objective is mainly technological/modeling-oriented, rather than clinical or anatomical diagnosis.

My main question is whether this level of differentiation seems relevant for an acoustic/biomechanical model. In particular:

- Is it reasonable to consider four distinct materials?

- Would it be appropriate to interpret the “Others” region as mainly epidermis/other superficial soft tissues, or would you recommend treating it differently?

- More generally, does this segmentation approach seem physically meaningful for studying sound propagation through the soft tissues?

I would greatly appreciate any feedback or recommendations on how you would approach this segmentation.