diff --git a/Modules/Segmentation/SegmentationUtilities/MorphologicalOperations/mitkMorphologicalOperations.cpp b/Modules/Segmentation/SegmentationUtilities/MorphologicalOperations/mitkMorphologicalOperations.cpp
index 31512f2240..002544b05c 100644
--- a/Modules/Segmentation/SegmentationUtilities/MorphologicalOperations/mitkMorphologicalOperations.cpp
+++ b/Modules/Segmentation/SegmentationUtilities/MorphologicalOperations/mitkMorphologicalOperations.cpp
@@ -1,380 +1,359 @@
 /*===================================================================
 
 The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
 
 Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
 Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
 All rights reserved.
 
 This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
 even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
 A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
 See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
 
 ===================================================================*/
 
 #include "mitkMorphologicalOperations.h"
 #include <mitkImageAccessByItk.h>
 #include <mitkImageCast.h>
 #include <mitkImageReadAccessor.h>
 #include <mitkImageTimeSelector.h>
 #include <itkBinaryBallStructuringElement.h>
 #include <itkBinaryCrossStructuringElement.h>
 #include <itkBinaryDilateImageFilter.h>
 #include <itkBinaryErodeImageFilter.h>
 #include <itkBinaryFillholeImageFilter.h>
 #include <itkBinaryMorphologicalClosingImageFilter.h>
 #include <itkBinaryMorphologicalOpeningImageFilter.h>
 
 void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::Closing(mitk::Image::Pointer& image, int factor, mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElement)
 {
-   MITK_INFO << "Start Closing...";
+  MITK_INFO << "Start Closing...";
 
-   int timeSteps = static_cast<int>(image->GetTimeSteps());
+  int timeSteps = static_cast<int>(image->GetTimeSteps());
 
-   if (timeSteps > 1)
-   {
-      mitk::ImageTimeSelector::Pointer timeSelector = mitk::ImageTimeSelector::New();
-      timeSelector->SetInput(image);
+  if (timeSteps > 1)
+  {
+    mitk::ImageTimeSelector::Pointer timeSelector = mitk::ImageTimeSelector::New();
+    timeSelector->SetInput(image);
 
-      for (int t = 0; t < timeSteps; ++t)
-      {
-         MITK_INFO << "  Processing time step " << t;
+    for (int t = 0; t < timeSteps; ++t)
+    {
+      MITK_INFO << "  Processing time step " << t;
 
-         timeSelector->SetTimeNr(t);
-         timeSelector->Update();
+      timeSelector->SetTimeNr(t);
+      timeSelector->Update();
 
-         mitk::Image::Pointer img3D = timeSelector->GetOutput();
-         img3D->DisconnectPipeline();
+      mitk::Image::Pointer img3D = timeSelector->GetOutput();
+      img3D->DisconnectPipeline();
 
-         AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(img3D, itkClosing, (unsigned char), img3D, factor, structuralElement);
+      AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(img3D, itkClosing, (unsigned char), img3D, factor, structuralElement);
 
-         mitk::ImageReadAccessor accessor(img3D);
-         image->SetVolume(accessor.GetData(), t);
-      }
-   }
-   else
-   {
-      AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(image, itkClosing, (unsigned char), image, factor, structuralElement);
-   }
+      mitk::ImageReadAccessor accessor(img3D);
+      image->SetVolume(accessor.GetData(), t);
+    }
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(image, itkClosing, (unsigned char), image, factor, structuralElement);
+  }
 
-   MITK_INFO << "Finished Closing";
+  MITK_INFO << "Finished Closing";
 }
 
 void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::Erode(mitk::Image::Pointer& image, int factor, mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElement)
 {
-   MITK_INFO << "Start Erode...";
+  MITK_INFO << "Start Erode...";
 
-   int timeSteps = static_cast<int>(image->GetTimeSteps());
+  int timeSteps = static_cast<int>(image->GetTimeSteps());
 
-   if (timeSteps > 1)
-   {
-      mitk::ImageTimeSelector::Pointer timeSelector = mitk::ImageTimeSelector::New();
-      timeSelector->SetInput(image);
+  if (timeSteps > 1)
+  {
+    mitk::ImageTimeSelector::Pointer timeSelector = mitk::ImageTimeSelector::New();
+    timeSelector->SetInput(image);
 
-      for (int t = 0; t < timeSteps; ++t)
-      {
-         MITK_INFO << "  Processing time step " << t;
+    for (int t = 0; t < timeSteps; ++t)
+    {
+      MITK_INFO << "  Processing time step " << t;
 
-         timeSelector->SetTimeNr(t);
-         timeSelector->Update();
+      timeSelector->SetTimeNr(t);
+      timeSelector->Update();
 
-         mitk::Image::Pointer img3D = timeSelector->GetOutput();
-         img3D->DisconnectPipeline();
+      mitk::Image::Pointer img3D = timeSelector->GetOutput();
+      img3D->DisconnectPipeline();
 
-         AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(img3D, itkErode, (unsigned char), img3D, factor, structuralElement);
+      AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(img3D, itkErode, (unsigned char), img3D, factor, structuralElement);
 
-         mitk::ImageReadAccessor accessor(img3D);
-         image->SetVolume(accessor.GetData(), t);
-      }
-   }
-   else
-   {
-      AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(image, itkErode, (unsigned char), image, factor, structuralElement);
-   }
+      mitk::ImageReadAccessor accessor(img3D);
+      image->SetVolume(accessor.GetData(), t);
+    }
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(image, itkErode, (unsigned char), image, factor, structuralElement);
+  }
 
-   MITK_INFO << "Finished Erode";
+  MITK_INFO << "Finished Erode";
 }
 
 void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::Dilate(mitk::Image::Pointer& image, int factor, mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElement)
 {
-   MITK_INFO << "Start Dilate...";
+  MITK_INFO << "Start Dilate...";
 
-   int timeSteps = static_cast<int>(image->GetTimeSteps());
+  int timeSteps = static_cast<int>(image->GetTimeSteps());
 
-   if (timeSteps > 1)
-   {
-      mitk::ImageTimeSelector::Pointer timeSelector = mitk::ImageTimeSelector::New();
-      timeSelector->SetInput(image);
+  if (timeSteps > 1)
+  {
+    mitk::ImageTimeSelector::Pointer timeSelector = mitk::ImageTimeSelector::New();
+    timeSelector->SetInput(image);
 
-      for (int t = 0; t < timeSteps; ++t)
-      {
-         MITK_INFO << "  Processing time step " << t;
+    for (int t = 0; t < timeSteps; ++t)
+    {
+      MITK_INFO << "  Processing time step " << t;
 
-         timeSelector->SetTimeNr(t);
-         timeSelector->Update();
+      timeSelector->SetTimeNr(t);
+      timeSelector->Update();
 
-         mitk::Image::Pointer img3D = timeSelector->GetOutput();
-         img3D->DisconnectPipeline();
+      mitk::Image::Pointer img3D = timeSelector->GetOutput();
+      img3D->DisconnectPipeline();
 
-         AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(img3D, itkDilate, (unsigned char), img3D, factor, structuralElement);
+      AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(img3D, itkDilate, (unsigned char), img3D, factor, structuralElement);
 
-         mitk::ImageReadAccessor accessor(img3D);
-         image->SetVolume(accessor.GetData(), t);
-      }
-   }
-   else
-   {
-      AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(image, itkDilate, (unsigned char), image, factor, structuralElement);
-   }
+      mitk::ImageReadAccessor accessor(img3D);
+      image->SetVolume(accessor.GetData(), t);
+    }
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(image, itkDilate, (unsigned char), image, factor, structuralElement);
+  }
 
-   MITK_INFO << "Finished Dilate";
+  MITK_INFO << "Finished Dilate";
 }
 
 void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::Opening(mitk::Image::Pointer& image, int factor, mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElement)
 {
-   MITK_INFO << "Start Opening...";
+  MITK_INFO << "Start Opening...";
 
-   int timeSteps = static_cast<int>(image->GetTimeSteps());
+  int timeSteps = static_cast<int>(image->GetTimeSteps());
 
-   if (timeSteps > 1)
-   {
-      mitk::ImageTimeSelector::Pointer timeSelector = mitk::ImageTimeSelector::New();
-      timeSelector->SetInput(image);
+  if (timeSteps > 1)
+  {
+    mitk::ImageTimeSelector::Pointer timeSelector = mitk::ImageTimeSelector::New();
+    timeSelector->SetInput(image);
 
-      for (int t = 0; t < timeSteps; ++t)
-      {
-         MITK_INFO << "  Processing time step " << t;
+    for (int t = 0; t < timeSteps; ++t)
+    {
+      MITK_INFO << "  Processing time step " << t;
 
-         timeSelector->SetTimeNr(t);
-         timeSelector->Update();
+      timeSelector->SetTimeNr(t);
+      timeSelector->Update();
 
-         mitk::Image::Pointer img3D = timeSelector->GetOutput();
-         img3D->DisconnectPipeline();
+      mitk::Image::Pointer img3D = timeSelector->GetOutput();
+      img3D->DisconnectPipeline();
 
-         AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(img3D, itkOpening, (unsigned char), img3D, factor, structuralElement);
+      AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(img3D, itkOpening, (unsigned char), img3D, factor, structuralElement);
 
-         mitk::ImageReadAccessor accessor(img3D);
-         image->SetVolume(accessor.GetData(), t);
-      }
-   }
-   else
-   {
-      AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(image, itkOpening, (unsigned char), image, factor, structuralElement);
-   }
+      mitk::ImageReadAccessor accessor(img3D);
+      image->SetVolume(accessor.GetData(), t);
+    }
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_3(image, itkOpening, (unsigned char), image, factor, structuralElement);
+  }
 
-   MITK_INFO << "Finished Opening";
+  MITK_INFO << "Finished Opening";
 }
 
 void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::FillHoles(mitk::Image::Pointer &image)
 {
-   MITK_INFO << "Start FillHole...";
+  MITK_INFO << "Start FillHole...";
 
-   int timeSteps = static_cast<int>(image->GetTimeSteps());
+  int timeSteps = static_cast<int>(image->GetTimeSteps());
 
-   if (timeSteps > 1)
-   {
-      mitk::ImageTimeSelector::Pointer timeSelector = mitk::ImageTimeSelector::New();
-      timeSelector->SetInput(image);
+  if (timeSteps > 1)
+  {
+    mitk::ImageTimeSelector::Pointer timeSelector = mitk::ImageTimeSelector::New();
+    timeSelector->SetInput(image);
 
-      for (int t = 0; t < timeSteps; ++t)
-      {
-         MITK_INFO << "  Processing time step " << t;
+    for (int t = 0; t < timeSteps; ++t)
+    {
+      MITK_INFO << "  Processing time step " << t;
 
-         timeSelector->SetTimeNr(t);
-         timeSelector->Update();
+      timeSelector->SetTimeNr(t);
+      timeSelector->Update();
 
-         mitk::Image::Pointer img3D = timeSelector->GetOutput();
-         img3D->DisconnectPipeline();
+      mitk::Image::Pointer img3D = timeSelector->GetOutput();
+      img3D->DisconnectPipeline();
 
-         AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_1(img3D, itkFillHoles, (unsigned char), img3D);
+      AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_1(img3D, itkFillHoles, (unsigned char), img3D);
 
-         mitk::ImageReadAccessor accessor(img3D);
-         image->SetVolume(accessor.GetData(), t);
-      }
-   }
-   else
-   {
-      AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_1(image, itkFillHoles, (unsigned char), image);
-   }
+      mitk::ImageReadAccessor accessor(img3D);
+      image->SetVolume(accessor.GetData(), t);
+    }
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    AccessFixedPixelTypeByItk_1(image, itkFillHoles, (unsigned char), image);
+  }
 
-   MITK_INFO << "Finished FillHole";
+  MITK_INFO << "Finished FillHole";
 }
 
 template<typename TPixel, unsigned int VDimension>
-void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::itkClosing(itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension>* sourceImage, mitk::Image::Pointer& resultImage, int factor, mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElement)
+void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::itkClosing(itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension>* sourceImage, mitk::Image::Pointer& resultImage, int factor, mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElementFlags)
 {
-   typedef itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension> ImageType;
-   typedef itk::BinaryBallStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> BallType;
-   typedef itk::BinaryCrossStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> CrossType;
-   typedef typename itk::BinaryMorphologicalClosingImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, BallType> BallClosingFilterType;
-   typedef typename itk::BinaryMorphologicalClosingImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, CrossType> CrossClosingFilterType;
-
-   if (structuralElement == Ball)
-   {
-      BallType ball;
-      ball.SetRadius(factor);
-      ball.CreateStructuringElement();
-
-      typename BallClosingFilterType::Pointer closingFilter = BallClosingFilterType::New();
-      closingFilter->SetKernel(ball);
-      closingFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
-      closingFilter->SetForegroundValue(1);
-      closingFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
-
-      mitk::CastToMitkImage(closingFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
-   }
-   else
-   {
-      CrossType cross;
-      cross.CreateStructuringElement();
-
-      typename CrossClosingFilterType::Pointer closingFilter = CrossClosingFilterType::New();
-      closingFilter->SetKernel(cross);
-      closingFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
-      closingFilter->SetForegroundValue(1);
-      closingFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
-
-      mitk::CastToMitkImage(closingFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
-   }
+  typedef itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension> ImageType;
+  typedef itk::BinaryBallStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> BallType;
+  typedef itk::BinaryCrossStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> CrossType;
+  typedef typename itk::BinaryMorphologicalClosingImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, BallType> BallClosingFilterType;
+  typedef typename itk::BinaryMorphologicalClosingImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, CrossType> CrossClosingFilterType;
+
+  if (structuralElementFlags & (Ball_Axial | Ball_Coronal |  Ball_Sagital))
+  {
     BallType ball = CreateStructuringElement<BallType>(structuralElementFlags,factor);
+
+    typename BallClosingFilterType::Pointer closingFilter = BallClosingFilterType::New();
+    closingFilter->SetKernel(ball);
+    closingFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
+    closingFilter->SetForegroundValue(1);
+    closingFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
+
+    mitk::CastToMitkImage(closingFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
+  }
+  else
+  {
     CrossType cross = CreateStructuringElement<CrossType>(structuralElementFlags,factor);
+
+    typename CrossClosingFilterType::Pointer closingFilter = CrossClosingFilterType::New();
+    closingFilter->SetKernel(cross);
+    closingFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
+    closingFilter->SetForegroundValue(1);
+    closingFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
+
+    mitk::CastToMitkImage(closingFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
+  }
 }
 
 template<typename TPixel, unsigned int VDimension>
-void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::itkErode(itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension>* sourceImage, mitk::Image::Pointer& resultImage, int factor, mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElement)
+void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::itkErode(itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension>* sourceImage, mitk::Image::Pointer& resultImage, int factor, mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElementFlags)
 {
-   typedef itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension> ImageType;
-   typedef itk::BinaryBallStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> BallType;
-   typedef itk::BinaryCrossStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> CrossType;
-   typedef typename itk::BinaryErodeImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, BallType> BallErodeFilterType;
-   typedef typename itk::BinaryErodeImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, CrossType> CrossErodeFilterType;
-
-   if (structuralElement == Ball)
-   {
-      BallType ball;
-      ball.SetRadius(factor);
-      ball.CreateStructuringElement();
-
-      typename BallErodeFilterType::Pointer erodeFilter = BallErodeFilterType::New();
-      erodeFilter->SetKernel(ball);
-      erodeFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
-      erodeFilter->SetErodeValue(1);
-      erodeFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
-
-      mitk::CastToMitkImage(erodeFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
-   }
-   else
-   {
-      CrossType cross;
-      cross.CreateStructuringElement();
-
-      typename CrossErodeFilterType::Pointer erodeFilter = CrossErodeFilterType::New();
-      erodeFilter->SetKernel(cross);
-      erodeFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
-      erodeFilter->SetErodeValue(1);
-      erodeFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
-
-      mitk::CastToMitkImage(erodeFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
-   }
+  typedef itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension> ImageType;
+  typedef itk::BinaryBallStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> BallType;
+  typedef itk::BinaryCrossStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> CrossType;
+  typedef typename itk::BinaryErodeImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, BallType> BallErodeFilterType;
+  typedef typename itk::BinaryErodeImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, CrossType> CrossErodeFilterType;
+
+  if (structuralElementFlags & (Ball_Axial | Ball_Coronal |  Ball_Sagital))
+  {
     BallType ball = CreateStructuringElement<BallType>(structuralElementFlags,factor);
+
+    typename BallErodeFilterType::Pointer erodeFilter = BallErodeFilterType::New();
+    erodeFilter->SetKernel(ball);
+    erodeFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
+    erodeFilter->SetErodeValue(1);
+    erodeFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
+
+    mitk::CastToMitkImage(erodeFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
+  }
+  else
+  {
     CrossType cross = CreateStructuringElement<CrossType>(structuralElementFlags,factor);
+
+    typename CrossErodeFilterType::Pointer erodeFilter = CrossErodeFilterType::New();
+    erodeFilter->SetKernel(cross);
+    erodeFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
+    erodeFilter->SetErodeValue(1);
+    erodeFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
+
+    mitk::CastToMitkImage(erodeFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
+  }
 }
 
 template<typename TPixel, unsigned int VDimension>
-void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::itkDilate(itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension>* sourceImage, mitk::Image::Pointer& resultImage, int factor,  mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElement)
+void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::itkDilate(itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension>* sourceImage, mitk::Image::Pointer& resultImage, int factor,  mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElementFlags)
 {
-   typedef itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension> ImageType;
-   typedef itk::BinaryBallStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> BallType;
-   typedef itk::BinaryCrossStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> CrossType;
-   typedef typename itk::BinaryDilateImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, BallType> BallDilateFilterType;
-   typedef typename itk::BinaryDilateImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, CrossType> CrossDilateFilterType;
-
-   if (structuralElement == Ball)
-   {
-      BallType ball;
-      ball.SetRadius(factor);
-      ball.CreateStructuringElement();
-
-      typename BallDilateFilterType::Pointer dilateFilter = BallDilateFilterType::New();
-      dilateFilter->SetKernel(ball);
-      dilateFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
-      dilateFilter->SetDilateValue(1);
-      dilateFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
-
-      mitk::CastToMitkImage(dilateFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
-   }
-   else
-   {
-      CrossType cross;
-      cross.CreateStructuringElement();
-
-      typename CrossDilateFilterType::Pointer dilateFilter = CrossDilateFilterType::New();
-
-      dilateFilter->SetKernel(cross);
-      dilateFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
-      dilateFilter->SetDilateValue(1);
-      dilateFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
-
-      mitk::CastToMitkImage(dilateFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
-   }
+  typedef itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension> ImageType;
+  typedef itk::BinaryBallStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> BallType;
+  typedef itk::BinaryCrossStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> CrossType;
+  typedef typename itk::BinaryDilateImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, BallType> BallDilateFilterType;
+  typedef typename itk::BinaryDilateImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, CrossType> CrossDilateFilterType;
+
+  if (structuralElementFlags & (Ball_Axial | Ball_Coronal |  Ball_Sagital))
+  {
     BallType ball = CreateStructuringElement<BallType>(structuralElementFlags,factor);
+
+    typename BallDilateFilterType::Pointer dilateFilter = BallDilateFilterType::New();
+    dilateFilter->SetKernel(ball);
+    dilateFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
+    dilateFilter->SetDilateValue(1);
+    dilateFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
+
+    mitk::CastToMitkImage(dilateFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
+  }
+  else
+  {
     CrossType cross = CreateStructuringElement<CrossType>(structuralElementFlags,factor);
+
+    typename CrossDilateFilterType::Pointer dilateFilter = CrossDilateFilterType::New();
+    dilateFilter->SetKernel(cross);
+    dilateFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
+    dilateFilter->SetDilateValue(1);
+    dilateFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
+
+    mitk::CastToMitkImage(dilateFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
+  }
 }
 
 template<typename TPixel, unsigned int VDimension>
-void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::itkOpening(itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension>* sourceImage, mitk::Image::Pointer& resultImage, int factor, mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElement)
+void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::itkOpening(itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension>* sourceImage, mitk::Image::Pointer& resultImage, int factor, mitk::MorphologicalOperations::StructuralElementType structuralElementFlags)
 {
-   typedef itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension> ImageType;
-   typedef itk::BinaryBallStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> BallType;
-   typedef itk::BinaryCrossStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> CrossType;
-   typedef typename itk::BinaryMorphologicalOpeningImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, BallType> BallOpeningFiltertype;
-   typedef typename itk::BinaryMorphologicalOpeningImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, CrossType> CrossOpeningFiltertype;
-
-   if (structuralElement == Ball)
-   {
-      BallType ball;
-      ball.SetRadius(factor);
-      ball.CreateStructuringElement();
-
-      typename BallOpeningFiltertype::Pointer openingFilter = BallOpeningFiltertype::New();
-      openingFilter->SetKernel(ball);
-      openingFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
-      openingFilter->SetForegroundValue(1);
-      openingFilter->SetBackgroundValue(0);
-      openingFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
-
-      mitk::CastToMitkImage(openingFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
-   }
-   else
-   {
-      CrossType cross;
-      cross.CreateStructuringElement();
-
-      typename CrossOpeningFiltertype::Pointer openingFilter = CrossOpeningFiltertype::New();
-      openingFilter->SetKernel(cross);
-      openingFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
-      openingFilter->SetForegroundValue(1);
-      openingFilter->SetBackgroundValue(0);
-      openingFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
-
-      mitk::CastToMitkImage(openingFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
-   }
+  typedef itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension> ImageType;
+  typedef itk::BinaryBallStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> BallType;
+  typedef itk::BinaryCrossStructuringElement<TPixel, VDimension> CrossType;
+  typedef typename itk::BinaryMorphologicalOpeningImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, BallType> BallOpeningFiltertype;
+  typedef typename itk::BinaryMorphologicalOpeningImageFilter<ImageType, ImageType, CrossType> CrossOpeningFiltertype;
+
+  if (structuralElementFlags & (Ball_Axial | Ball_Coronal |  Ball_Sagital))
+  {
     BallType ball = CreateStructuringElement<BallType>(structuralElementFlags,factor);
+
+    typename BallOpeningFiltertype::Pointer openingFilter = BallOpeningFiltertype::New();
+    openingFilter->SetKernel(ball);
+    openingFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
+    openingFilter->SetForegroundValue(1);
+    openingFilter->SetBackgroundValue(0);
+    openingFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
+
+    mitk::CastToMitkImage(openingFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
+  }
+  else
+  {
     CrossType cross = CreateStructuringElement<CrossType>(structuralElementFlags,factor);
+
+    typename CrossOpeningFiltertype::Pointer openingFilter = CrossOpeningFiltertype::New();
+    openingFilter->SetKernel(cross);
+    openingFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
+    openingFilter->SetForegroundValue(1);
+    openingFilter->SetBackgroundValue(0);
+    openingFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
+
+    mitk::CastToMitkImage(openingFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
+  }
 }
 
 template<typename TPixel, unsigned int VDimension>
 void mitk::MorphologicalOperations::itkFillHoles(itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension>* sourceImage, mitk::Image::Pointer& resultImage)
 {
-   typedef itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension> ImageType;
-   typedef typename itk::BinaryFillholeImageFilter<ImageType> FillHoleFilterType;
+  typedef itk::Image<TPixel, VDimension> ImageType;
+  typedef typename itk::BinaryFillholeImageFilter<ImageType> FillHoleFilterType;
 
-   typename FillHoleFilterType::Pointer fillHoleFilter = FillHoleFilterType::New();
-   fillHoleFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
-   fillHoleFilter->SetForegroundValue(1);
-   fillHoleFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
+  typename FillHoleFilterType::Pointer fillHoleFilter = FillHoleFilterType::New();
+  fillHoleFilter->SetInput(sourceImage);
+  fillHoleFilter->SetForegroundValue(1);
+  fillHoleFilter->UpdateLargestPossibleRegion();
 
-   mitk::CastToMitkImage(fillHoleFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
+  mitk::CastToMitkImage(fillHoleFilter->GetOutput(), resultImage);
 }