diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index eee7ce1..0a1135d 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -62,32 +62,39 @@ find_package(GDCM REQUIRED)
 
 # --- Sources ---
 set(SRCS
+  DicomScanService.cpp
+  DicomScanWorker.cpp
+  SkullRemovalService.cpp
+  SkullRemovalWorker.cpp
+  VolumePrepService.cpp
+  VolumePrepWorker.cpp
   main.cpp
   mainw.cpp
   ui_mainw.cpp
   dicomUtils.cpp
   gRen.cpp
-  gLoadPatient.cpp
   LocalizationService.cpp
   LocalizationWorker.cpp
 
-  gSkullRemoval.cpp
 )
 
 set(HDR
+  DicomScanService.h
+  DicomScanWorker.h
+  SkullRemovalService.h
+  SkullRemovalWorker.h
+  VolumePrepService.h
+  VolumePrepWorker.h
   mainw.h
   ui_mainw.h
   connectITKVTK.h
   dicomUtils.h
   gPatientRTGeneralInfos.h
   gRen.h
-  gLoadPatient.h
   LocalizationService.h
   LocalizationWorker.h
   types.h
   types_qt.h
-
-  gSkullRemoval.h
   itkQtAdaptor.h
 )
 
diff --git a/DicomScanService.cpp b/DicomScanService.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27aa5c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DicomScanService.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,450 @@
+#include "DicomScanService.h"
+
+
+/*_________________________________________________________-
+
+Patient loader for gLocalize. 
+no wrkDir behaviour. just load data
+____________________________________________________________*/
+
+
+DicomScanService::gLoadPatient(){
+	patientInfos = new gPatientRTGeneralInfos;
+	readRT=0;
+	m_rtIsocenter=0;
+	initialized=false;
+	virtualIso=false;
+	//cout<< "DicomScanService::gLoadPatient" <<endl;
+}
+
+
+void DicomScanService::load(QString p_loadDir){
+
+	this->parse(p_loadDir);
+
+	if(patientInfos->CTfiles .size()!=0){
+		cout<< "this->load2VTK(patientInfos)" <<endl;
+		
+		if(readRT!=0){
+			delete readRT;
+			readRT = 0;
+		}
+		if(m_rtIsocenter!=0){
+			delete m_rtIsocenter;
+			m_rtIsocenter = 0;
+		}
+
+		if(!patientInfos->rtIonPlanPath.isEmpty()){
+			readRT = new RTPlan;	
+			readRT->fillRTPlan(patientInfos->rtIonPlanPath.toLatin1().data()  );
+			m_rtIsocenter = new double[3];
+			if (readRT->NumberOfBeams > 0){
+				{
+					const auto& iso = readRT->Beams.at(0)->IsocenterPosition;
+					m_rtIsocenter[0] = iso[0];
+					m_rtIsocenter[1] = iso[1];
+					m_rtIsocenter[2] = iso[2];
+				}
+				if (readRT->PatientOrientation.rfind("HFS", 0) == 0)
+					m_patientOrientation = SUPINE;
+				else if (readRT->PatientOrientation.rfind("HFP", 0) == 0)
+					m_patientOrientation = PRONE;
+				else m_patientOrientation = NOTDEFINED;
+			
+				if (callbacks.loadedRTIso) callbacks.loadedRTIso(m_rtIsocenter);
+				//for (int ii=0;ii<readRT->NumberOfBeams; ii++){
+				//	cout<< readRT->Beams[ii]->IsocenterPosition[0]<<"  ";
+				//	cout<< readRT->Beams[ii]->IsocenterPosition[1]<<"  ";
+				//	cout<< readRT->Beams[ii]->IsocenterPosition[2]<<"  "<<endl;
+				//}
+				//cout<< "nbeams: "<<readRT->NumberOfBeams <<endl;
+				//cout<< "iso0: "<<readRT->Beams.at(0)->IsocenterPosition[0] <<endl;
+				//cout<< "iso2: "<<readRT->Beams.at(2)->IsocenterPosition[0]<<endl;
+				//cout<< "iso0: "<<readRT->Beams.at(0)->IsocenterPosition[1] <<endl;
+				//cout<< "iso2: "<<readRT->Beams.at(2)->IsocenterPosition[1]<<endl;
+				//cout<< "iso0: "<<readRT->Beams.at(0)->IsocenterPosition[2] <<endl;
+				//cout<< "iso2: "<<readRT->Beams.at(2)->IsocenterPosition[2]<<endl;
+
+				/*check for virtual iso, adapted from GB, gOTS v04Build34*/
+				if(readRT->NumberOfBeams > 2 &&
+					(readRT->Beams.at(0)->IsocenterPosition[0] != readRT->Beams.at(2)->IsocenterPosition[0] ||
+					readRT->Beams.at(0)->IsocenterPosition[1] != readRT->Beams.at(2)->IsocenterPosition[1] ||
+					readRT->Beams.at(0)->IsocenterPosition[2] != readRT->Beams.at(2)->IsocenterPosition[2])					
+				)
+					virtualIso=true;
+				else
+					virtualIso=false;
+				//cout << "virtual Iso: "<<virtualIso << endl;
+				if (callbacks.virtualIsoTested) callbacks.virtualIsoTested(virtualIso);
+
+
+			} else {
+				cout<<"Number of Beams = 0 in RTIonPlan, FAIL" <<endl;
+				delete m_rtIsocenter;
+				delete readRT;
+				readRT = 0;
+				m_rtIsocenter = 0;
+			}
+		}
+
+		cout<< "DicomScanService::load2VTK _ 2 " <<endl;
+
+
+		
+		this->loadDICOM(patientInfos->CTfiles);
+		this->connectToVTK();
+//		this->changeRef(GOTSREF);
+        /* use DCM as default */
+        this->changeRef(DCMREF);
+		//trueOffset_rot_prev=trueOffset_rot;
+
+		
+		//this->load2VTK(patientInfos);
+	} else {
+		//DO NOTHING. THE folderisempty signal was already emitted.
+	}
+	cout<< " DicomScanService::load _ END" <<endl;
+}
+
+void DicomScanService::changeRef(int selectedRef){
+	
+	switch (selectedRef){
+	case DCMREF:
+		trueOffset=origin;
+		break;
+	case RTREF:
+		trueOffset=origin;
+		if(m_patientOrientation == SUPINE) {
+			cout<< "     ***** Patient is SUPINE" <<endl;
+			trueOffset[0]-= m_rtIsocenter[0];
+			trueOffset[1]-= m_rtIsocenter[1];
+			trueOffset[2]-= m_rtIsocenter[2];
+		} else if (m_patientOrientation == PRONE) {
+
+			cout<< "     ***** Patient is PRONE" <<endl;
+			/* adapted from CThandler project*/
+			trueOffset[0] = 0.0;
+			trueOffset[1] = 0.0;
+			trueOffset[2] = 0.0;
+			cout<<"     ***** Reset trueOffset: "<<trueOffset[0]<<" "<<trueOffset[1]<<" "<<trueOffset[2]<<endl;
+			
+			trueOffset[0] += -origin[0] ;
+			trueOffset[1] += -origin[1];
+			trueOffset[2] += origin[2] ;
+			cout<<"     ***** Correct for CT isocenter trueOffset: "<<trueOffset[0]<<" "<<trueOffset[1]<<" "<<trueOffset[2]<<endl;
+			
+			trueOffset[0] += +m_rtIsocenter[0];
+			trueOffset[1] += +m_rtIsocenter[1];
+			trueOffset[2] +=- m_rtIsocenter[2];
+			cout<<"     ***** Correct for rtIso and volume bounds trueOffset: "<<trueOffset[0]<<" "<<trueOffset[1]<<" "<<trueOffset[2]<<endl;
+
+		} else if (m_patientOrientation == NOTDEFINED) {
+			cout<< "!!! Patient is NOT PRONE OR SUPINE! VERY VERY CRITICAL SITUATION !!!" <<endl;
+		}
+		break;
+	case GOTSREF:
+			trueOffset[0] = 0.0;
+			trueOffset[1] = 0.0;
+			trueOffset[2] = 0.0;
+		break;
+	
+	}
+
+		directionToWCS.SetIdentity( );		
+		directionToWCS[0][0]=1;
+		directionToWCS[1][0]=0;
+		directionToWCS[2][0]=0;
+		directionToWCS[0][1]=0;
+		directionToWCS[1][1]=1;
+		directionToWCS[2][1]=0;
+		directionToWCS[0][2]=0;
+		directionToWCS[1][2]=0;
+		directionToWCS[2][2]=1;
+	 
+		imageDir *= directionToWCS;
+		myImageType::PointType trueOffset_rot=trueOffset;
+
+		trueOffset_rot[0]=	directionToWCS[0][0]* trueOffset[0]+directionToWCS[0][1]* trueOffset[1] + directionToWCS[0][2]* trueOffset[2];
+		trueOffset_rot[1]=	directionToWCS[1][0]* trueOffset[0]+directionToWCS[1][1]* trueOffset[1] + directionToWCS[1][2]* trueOffset[2];
+		trueOffset_rot[2]=	directionToWCS[2][0]* trueOffset[0]+directionToWCS[2][1]* trueOffset[1] + directionToWCS[2][2]* trueOffset[2];
+
+			/*vedi se è giusto ma prob lo è */
+		myImage->SetDirection( /*imageDir*/directionToWCS  );
+		myImage->SetOrigin( trueOffset_rot );
+		myImage->Update();
+
+		in->SetInput(myImage);
+		this->connectToVTK();
+		this->actualizeOut();
+
+			/*calculate deltas for marker representation update*/
+		if(initialized){
+			if (callbacks.referenceChange) callbacks.referenceChange(
+				trueOffset_rot_prev[0]-trueOffset_rot[0],
+				trueOffset_rot_prev[1]-trueOffset_rot[1],
+				trueOffset_rot_prev[2]-trueOffset_rot[2]);
+			trueOffset_rot_prev=trueOffset_rot;
+		} else {
+			trueOffset_rot_prev=trueOffset_rot;
+			initialized=true;
+		}
+
+}
+
+void DicomScanService::loadDICOM(std::vector<std::string> CTfilenames){
+	
+	myImage = myImageType::New();
+	rDICOM = itk::ImageSeriesReader<myImageType>::New();
+	iGDCMimage = itk::GDCMImageIO::New();
+	myDICOMseries = itk::GDCMSeriesFileNames::New();
+    
+	rDICOM->SetImageIO(iGDCMimage);
+	rDICOM->SetFileNames(CTfilenames);
+	//  rDICOM->SetReverseOrder(true);
+	try{
+		rDICOM->Update();
+	}
+	catch (itk::ExceptionObject &ex){
+		std::cout << ex << std::endl;
+		return; // error!
+	}
+
+	myImage=rDICOM->GetOutput();
+	imageDir = myImage->GetDirection( );
+	origin = myImage->GetOrigin( );
+	sizeOfImage =  myImage->GetLargestPossibleRegion().GetSize();
+
+}
+
+void DicomScanService::connectToVTK(){
+	
+
+	out = vtkSmartPointer<vtkImageImport>::New();
+
+	in = itk::VTKImageExport <myImageType>::New();
+	in->SetInput(myImage);
+
+	out->SetUpdateInformationCallback(in->GetUpdateInformationCallback());    
+	out->SetPipelineModifiedCallback(in->GetPipelineModifiedCallback());    
+	out->SetWholeExtentCallback(in->GetWholeExtentCallback());   
+	out->SetSpacingCallback(in->GetSpacingCallback());   
+	out->SetOriginCallback(in->GetOriginCallback());   
+	out->SetScalarTypeCallback(in->GetScalarTypeCallback());   
+	out->SetNumberOfComponentsCallback(in->GetNumberOfComponentsCallback());   
+	out->SetPropagateUpdateExtentCallback(in->GetPropagateUpdateExtentCallback());   
+	out->SetUpdateDataCallback(in->GetUpdateDataCallback());   
+	out->SetDataExtentCallback(in->GetDataExtentCallback());   
+	out->SetBufferPointerCallback(in->GetBufferPointerCallback());  
+	out->SetCallbackUserData(in->GetCallbackUserData());   
+   
+}
+
+void DicomScanService::actualizeOut(){
+
+	//in->Update();
+	out->Update();
+	//vol3D = vtkSmartPointer <vtkImageData>::New();
+	//vol3D->DeepCopy(out->GetOutput());
+	//vol3D->Update();
+	vol3D = out->GetOutput();
+	cout<<vol3D->GetSpacing()[0] <<" "<<vol3D->GetSpacing()[1] <<" "<<vol3D->GetSpacing()[2]  <<endl;
+	cout<<"fatto update" <<endl;
+			if (callbacks.loadEnd) callbacks.loadEnd(vol3D);
+}
+
+
+void DicomScanService::parse(QString p_loadDir){
+	loadDir=p_loadDir;
+	
+	std::cout<< " ______________________________ " <<endl;
+	std::cout<< " __ DicomScanService::load __ " <<endl;
+    
+    int result= NOERRORS;
+    gdcm::Reader* fileReader;
+    gdcm::MediaStorage msStructRTStruct;
+    gdcm::MediaStorage msStructRTIonPlan;
+    gdcm::Directory d;
+    gdcm::IPPSorter s;
+    std::cout<< " __ wrkDirParser::exec_parse __ patientInfos->clearInfo() " <<endl;
+    patientInfos->clearInfo();
+
+    std::cout<<"parsing dir: "<<p_loadDir.toUtf8().constData()<<std::endl;
+
+	if( gdcm::System::FileIsDirectory( p_loadDir.toUtf8().constData() ) )
+    {
+        d.Load(p_loadDir.toUtf8().constData(), false);
+        gdcm::Directory::FilenamesType const &files = d.GetFilenames();
+        for( gdcm::Directory::FilenamesType::const_iterator it = files.begin(); it != files.end(); ++it )
+        {
+            if(QFileInfo (it->c_str()).fileName().split(".").last() != QString("raw") )
+                patientInfos->filenames.push_back( it->c_str() );
+        }
+        patientInfos->filenames.size() == 0 ? result = PARSER_FOLDER_EMPTY : result = NOERRORS;
+    } else {
+        result=PARSER_FOLDER_NOTEXISTING;
+    };
+    
+    cout << " patientInfos->filenames.size() "<<endl;
+    cout<< patientInfos->filenames.size() <<endl;
+
+    if(result == NOERRORS)
+        for(int i=(patientInfos->filenames.size()-1);i>-1;i--)
+        {
+            //cout << gCheckDICOMModalityToInt(patientInfos->filenames.at(i).c_str()) <<endl;
+            fileReader = new gdcm::Reader;
+            fileReader->SetFileName (patientInfos->filenames.at(i).c_str());
+            
+            if( !fileReader->Read() ) {
+                cout<< "Error reading file: "<< patientInfos->filenames.at(i).data() <<endl;
+				delete fileReader;
+				patientInfos->filenames.erase(patientInfos->filenames.begin()+i);
+                continue;
+            }
+            
+            //msStructRTIonPlan.SetFromFile( fileReader->GetFile() );
+            //if( msStructRTIonPlan == gdcm::MediaStorage::RTIonPlanStorage )
+            if( gCheckDICOMModalityToInt(patientInfos->filenames.at(i).c_str()) == RTPLAN )
+            {
+                if(!patientInfos->rtIonPlanPath.isEmpty()) {
+//                    result=PARSER_RTPLAN_NOTUNIQUE;
+                    continue;
+                } else {
+                    const gdcm::File &file = fileReader->GetFile();
+                    const gdcm::DataSet &ds = file.GetDataSet();
+                    //PATIENT NAME
+                    strcpy( patientInfos->PatientName,gGetStringValueFromTag( gdcm::Tag(0x0010,0x0010), ds));
+                    //   //   // PATIENT ID For ex: DICOM (0010,0020) = 1933197
+                    strcpy( patientInfos->PatientID , gGetStringValueFromTag( gdcm::Tag(0x0010,0x0020), ds));
+                    // //   // PATIENT AGE For ex: DICOM (0010,1010) = 031Y
+                    strcpy( patientInfos->PatientAge , gGetStringValueFromTag( gdcm::Tag(0x0010,0x1010), ds)) ;
+                    // //   // PATIENT SEX For ex: DICOM (0010,0040) = M
+                    strcpy( patientInfos->PatientSex, gGetStringValueFromTag( gdcm::Tag(0x0010,0x0040), ds) );
+                    // //   // PATIENT BIRTHDATE For ex: DICOM (0010,0030) = 19680427
+                    strcpy( patientInfos->PatientBirthDate,  gGetStringValueFromTag( gdcm::Tag(0x0010,0x0030), ds) );
+                    // //   // SERIES NUMBER For ex: DICOM (0020,0011) = 902
+                    strcpy( patientInfos->SeriesNumber, gGetStringValueFromTag( gdcm::Tag(0x0020,0x0011), ds) );
+                    // //   // SERIES DESCRIPTION For ex: DICOM (0008,103e) = SCOUT
+                    strcpy( patientInfos->SeriesDescription , gGetStringValueFromTag( gdcm::Tag(0x0008,0x103e), ds) );
+                    // //   // STUDY ID For ex: DICOM (0020,0010) = 37481
+                    strcpy( patientInfos->StudyID, gGetStringValueFromTag( gdcm::Tag(0x0020,0x0010), ds) );
+                    // //   // STUDY DESCRIPTION For ex: DICOM (0008,1030) = BRAIN/C-SP/FACIAL
+                    strcpy( patientInfos->StudyDescription, gGetStringValueFromTag( gdcm::Tag(0x0008,0x1030), ds) );
+                    
+                    const gdcm::DataElement &gSetupSequence=ds.GetDataElement(gdcm::Tag(0x300a,0x0180));
+                    //LOOK FOR PATIENT ORIENTATION
+                    gdcm::SmartPointer<gdcm::SequenceOfItems> sqiPS = gSetupSequence.GetValueAsSQ();
+                    const gdcm::DataSet& gPatSetupNest = sqiPS->GetItem(1).GetNestedDataSet();
+                    //SET PATIENT ORIENTATION STRING
+                    strcpy(patientInfos->PatientOrientation, gGetStringValueFromTag(gdcm::Tag(0x0018, 0x5100),gPatSetupNest));
+                    
+                    
+                    
+                    patientInfos->rtIonPlanPath=QString(patientInfos->filenames.at(i).c_str());
+					cout<< "RTPlan import success" <<endl;
+                    result=NOERRORS;
+                    patientInfos->filenames.erase(patientInfos->filenames.begin()+i);
+                    delete fileReader;
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+            
+            //    msStructRTStruct.SetFromFile( fileReader->GetFile() );
+            //    if( msStructRTStruct == gdcm::MediaStorage::RTStructureSetStorage ) {
+            if( gCheckDICOMModalityToInt(patientInfos->filenames.at(i).c_str()) == RTSTRUCT ){
+                if(!patientInfos->rtStructurePath.isEmpty()) {
+                    patientInfos->rtStructurePath.clear();
+//                    result=PARSER_RTSTRUCT_NOTUNIQUE;
+                    continue;
+                } else {
+                    patientInfos->rtStructurePath=QString(patientInfos->filenames.at(i).c_str());
+                    cout<< "RTStruct import success" <<endl;
+                    result=NOERRORS;
+                    patientInfos->filenames.erase(patientInfos->filenames.begin()+i);
+                    delete fileReader;
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+            delete fileReader;
+        }
+    
+    
+    //OK
+    //if(result == NOERRORS && patientInfos->rtIonPlanPath.isEmpty() )
+    //    result= PARSER_RTPLAN_MISSING;
+    //if(result == NOERRORS && patientInfos->rtStructurePath.isEmpty())
+    //    result=PARSER_RTSTRUCT_MISSING;
+    
+    s.SetComputeZSpacing( true );
+    s.SetZSpacingTolerance( 1e-2 );
+    
+    if(result==NOERRORS)
+        if(!s.Sort( patientInfos->filenames ) ) {
+            result=PARSER_CT_FAILED_SORTING;
+        } else {
+            s.GetFilenames().size() == 0 ? result = PARSER_CT_FILES_MISSING : result=NOERRORS;
+        }
+    
+    if(result == NOERRORS){
+		patientInfos->CTfiles=s.GetFilenames ();
+		//cout<< "CT files sorting succeeded" <<endl;
+		if (callbacks.statusInfo) callbacks.statusInfo("CT files sorting succeeded");
+    } else {
+        
+        switch(result){
+                
+            case PARSER_FOLDER_EMPTY:
+                cout<< "Empty folder. Parse failed" <<endl;
+                if (callbacks.folderIsEmpty) callbacks.folderIsEmpty();
+                break;
+                
+            case PARSER_FOLDER_NOTEXISTING:
+                if (callbacks.statusInfo) callbacks.statusInfo("NonExisting folder. Parse failed");
+                break;
+                
+            case PARSER_RTPLAN_NOTUNIQUE:
+                if (callbacks.statusInfo) callbacks.statusInfo("RtIonPlan not unique. Parse failed");
+                break;
+                
+            case PARSER_RTSTRUCT_NOTUNIQUE:
+                if (callbacks.statusInfo) callbacks.statusInfo("RtStructure not unique. Parse failed");
+                break;
+                
+            case PARSER_CT_FAILED_SORTING:
+                if (callbacks.statusInfo) callbacks.statusInfo("Failed to sort CT files");
+				if (callbacks.folderIsEmpty) callbacks.folderIsEmpty();
+                break;
+                
+            case PARSER_CT_FILES_MISSING:
+                if (callbacks.statusInfo) callbacks.statusInfo("CT file Missing");
+				if (callbacks.folderIsEmpty) callbacks.folderIsEmpty();
+				break;
+                
+            case PARSER_RTPLAN_MISSING:
+                if (callbacks.statusInfo) callbacks.statusInfo("RtIonPlan missing");
+                break;
+                
+            case PARSER_RTSTRUCT_MISSING:
+                if (callbacks.statusInfo) callbacks.statusInfo("rtStructure missing");
+                break;
+        }
+        
+    }
+    
+	if (callbacks.parse_result) callbacks.parse_result(result,patientInfos);
+	
+}
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+DicomScanService::~DicomScanService(){
+    delete patientInfos;
+    patientInfos=nullptr;
+    if (m_rtIsocenter) { delete [] m_rtIsocenter; m_rtIsocenter=nullptr; }
+    delete readRT;
+    readRT=nullptr;
+}
diff --git a/DicomScanService.h b/DicomScanService.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3cdf4e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DicomScanService.h
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+#ifndef _DICOMSCANSERVICE_H_
+#define _DICOMSCANSERVICE_H_
+
+#include <qstring.h>
+#include <functional>
+#include <utility>
+#include "gPatientRTGeneralInfos.h"
+//#include "wrkDirParser.h"
+#include <qdir.h>
+#include <vtkSmartPointer.h>
+#include <vtkImageData.h>
+#include "dicomUtils.h"
+
+
+/*_________________________________________________________-
+
+Patient loader for gLocalize. 
+no wrkDir behaviour. just load data
+____________________________________________________________*/
+
+
+#include "connectITKVTK.h"
+//#include "itkAnalyzeImageIO.h"
+#include "itkChangeInformationImageFilter.h"
+#include "itkImage.h"
+#include "itkImage.h"
+#include "itkImageFileWriter.h"
+#include "itkOrientImageFilter.h"
+#include "itkPermuteAxesImageFilter.h"
+#include "itkRescaleIntensityImageFilter.h"
+#include "itkImageSeriesReader.h"
+#include "itkGDCMImageIO.h"
+#include "itkGDCMSeriesFileNames.h"
+#include "gdcmIPPSorter.h"
+
+
+#ifndef TPATIENTORIENTATION
+#define TPATIENTORIENTATION
+	typedef	enum {
+			NOTDEFINED=0,
+			SUPINE = 1,
+			PRONE =2
+		} t_patientOrientation;
+#endif
+
+#ifndef PARSERVARIABLES	
+#define PARSERVARIABLES
+	enum patientErrors {
+	  NOERRORS,
+	  PARSER_FOLDER_NOTEXISTING, 
+	  PARSER_FOLDER_EMPTY, 
+	  PARSER_RTPLAN_NOTUNIQUE,
+	  PARSER_RTPLAN_MISSING,
+	  PARSER_RTSTRUCT_NOTUNIQUE,
+	  PARSER_RTSTRUCT_MISSING,
+	  PARSER_CT_FILES_MISSING, 
+	  PARSER_CT_FAILED_SORTING,
+	  POPULATE_INCONSISTENT_DATASET,
+	  POPULATE_NOTEXISTING,
+	  CLEAR_FOLDER_NOTEXISTING
+	};
+
+
+	enum patientParseOption{
+	  NOCLEAN,
+	  CLEAN
+	};
+	enum patientCleanMode{
+	  JUSTCLEAR,
+	  ISLOADINGCHECK
+	};
+#endif
+
+#ifndef _T_REFERENCE_
+#define _T_REFERENCE_
+typedef enum{
+	DCMREF=0,
+	RTREF=1,
+	GOTSREF=2
+}t_reference;
+
+#endif
+
+ typedef itk::Image<short,3> myImageType;
+
+
+class DicomScanService {
+public:
+	DicomScanService();
+    ~DicomScanService();
+
+    struct Callbacks {
+        std::function<void()> folderIsEmpty;
+        std::function<void(QString)> statusInfo;
+        std::function<void(int, gPatientRTGeneralInfos*)> parse_result;
+        std::function<void(QString)> loadFail;
+        std::function<void(vtkImageData*)> loadEnd;
+        std::function<void(double*)> loadedRTIso;
+        std::function<void(double*, double*, int*)> loadedVolBBox;
+        std::function<void(double, double, double)> referenceChange;
+        std::function<void(bool)> virtualIsoTested;
+    };
+
+    void setCallbacks(Callbacks cb) { callbacks = std::move(cb); }
+
+
+public:
+	void load(QString p_loadDir);
+	void changeRef(int selectedRef);
+
+private:
+	QString loadDir;
+	gPatientRTGeneralInfos* patientInfos;
+	void loadDICOM(std::vector<std::string> CTfilenames);
+	void connectToVTK();
+	void actualizeOut();
+	void parse(QString p_loadDir);
+	t_patientOrientation m_patientOrientation;
+	vtkSmartPointer <vtkImageData> vol3D;
+	  
+	myImageType::Pointer myImage;
+	itk::ImageSeriesReader<myImageType>::Pointer rDICOM;
+	itk::GDCMImageIO::Pointer iGDCMimage ;
+	itk::GDCMSeriesFileNames::Pointer myDICOMseries;
+	myImageType::DirectionType imageDir;
+	myImageType::PointType origin;
+	myImageType::SizeType sizeOfImage;
+	myImageType::PointType trueOffset;
+	myImageType::PointType trueOffset_rot;
+	myImageType::PointType trueOffset_rot_prev;
+	myImageType::DirectionType directionToWCS;
+
+	bool initialized;
+
+	vtkSmartPointer<vtkImageImport> out;
+	itk::VTKImageExport <myImageType>::Pointer in;
+
+	RTPlan * readRT;
+	double* m_rtIsocenter;
+	bool virtualIso;
+	t_reference m_reference;
+
+
+private:
+    Callbacks callbacks;
+};
+
+#endif
diff --git a/DicomScanWorker.cpp b/DicomScanWorker.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ce4469
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DicomScanWorker.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#include "DicomScanWorker.h"
+
+DicomScanWorker::DicomScanWorker(QObject* parent)
+    : QObject(parent)
+{
+    DicomScanService::Callbacks cb;
+    cb.folderIsEmpty = [&]() { emit folderIsEmpty(); };
+    cb.statusInfo = [&](QString msg) { emit statusInfo(msg); };
+    cb.parse_result = [&](int r, gPatientRTGeneralInfos* infos) { emit parse_result(r, infos); };
+    cb.loadFail = [&](QString msg) { emit loadFail(msg); };
+    cb.loadEnd = [&](vtkImageData* vol) { emit loadEnd(vol); };
+    cb.loadedRTIso = [&](double* iso) { emit loadedRTIso(iso); };
+    cb.loadedVolBBox = [&](double* bbox, double* spacing, int* dim) { emit loadedVolBBox(bbox, spacing, dim); };
+    cb.referenceChange = [&](double dx, double dy, double dz) { emit referenceChange(dx, dy, dz); };
+    cb.virtualIsoTested = [&](bool b) { emit virtualIsoTested(b); };
+    svc.setCallbacks(std::move(cb));
+}
+
+void DicomScanWorker::load(QString p_loadDir)
+{
+    m_abort.store(false);
+    if (m_abort.load()) { emit aborted(); return; }
+    svc.load(p_loadDir);
+    if (m_abort.load()) emit aborted();
+}
+
+void DicomScanWorker::changeRef(int selectedRef)
+{
+    svc.changeRef(selectedRef);
+}
+
+void DicomScanWorker::abort()
+{
+    m_abort.store(true);
+}
diff --git a/DicomScanWorker.h b/DicomScanWorker.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..715ad2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DicomScanWorker.h
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <QObject>
+#include <atomic>
+
+#include <QString>
+
+#include "DicomScanService.h"
+
+class vtkImageData;
+class gPatientRTGeneralInfos;
+
+// Qt wrapper around DicomScanService (runs in a worker thread).
+class DicomScanWorker : public QObject
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit DicomScanWorker(QObject* parent = nullptr);
+
+public slots:
+    void load(QString p_loadDir);
+    void changeRef(int selectedRef);
+    void abort();
+
+signals:
+    void folderIsEmpty();
+    void statusInfo(QString msg);
+    void parse_result(int result, gPatientRTGeneralInfos* patientInfos);
+    void loadFail(QString msg);
+    void loadEnd(vtkImageData* vol);
+    void loadedRTIso(double* iso);
+    void loadedVolBBox(double* bbox, double* spacing, int* dimension);
+    void referenceChange(double dx, double dy, double dz);
+    void virtualIsoTested(bool virtualIso);
+    void aborted();
+
+private:
+    std::atomic_bool m_abort{false};
+    DicomScanService svc;
+};
diff --git a/SkullRemovalService.cpp b/SkullRemovalService.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ea172e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SkullRemovalService.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+#include "SkullRemovalService.h"
+
+#include "connectITKVTK.h"
+
+#include <vtkImageData.h>
+#include <vtkImageExport.h>
+#include <vtkImageImport.h>
+#include <vtkSmartPointer.h>
+
+#include <itkBinaryDilateImageFilter.h>
+#include <itkBinaryErodeImageFilter.h>
+#include <itkBinaryThresholdImageFilter.h>
+#include <itkCastImageFilter.h>
+#include <itkConnectedThresholdImageFilter.h>
+#include <itkCurvatureFlowImageFilter.h>
+#include <itkImage.h>
+#include <itkMaskNegatedImageFilter.h>
+#include <itkVTKImageImport.h>
+#include <itkExceptionObject.h>
+
+#include <stdexcept>
+
+namespace
+{
+using InternalPixelType = float;
+constexpr unsigned int Dimension = 3;
+
+using InternalImageType = itk::Image<InternalPixelType, Dimension>;
+using MaskPixelType = unsigned char;
+using MaskImageType = itk::Image<MaskPixelType, Dimension>;
+
+using ImportFilterType = itk::VTKImageImport<InternalImageType>;
+using CastingINVFilterType = itk::CastImageFilter<InternalImageType, InternalImageType>;
+using CurvatureFlowImageFilterType = itk::CurvatureFlowImageFilter<InternalImageType, InternalImageType>;
+using ConnectedThresholdImageFilterType = itk::ConnectedThresholdImageFilter<InternalImageType, MaskImageType>;
+using CastingFilterType = itk::CastImageFilter<MaskImageType, MaskImageType>;
+
+using StructuringElementType = itk::BinaryBallStructuringElement<MaskPixelType, Dimension>;
+using DilateFilterType = itk::BinaryDilateImageFilter<MaskImageType, MaskImageType, StructuringElementType>;
+using ErodeFilterType  = itk::BinaryErodeImageFilter<MaskImageType, MaskImageType, StructuringElementType>;
+using MaskNegatedFilterType = itk::MaskNegatedImageFilter<InternalImageType, MaskImageType, InternalImageType>;
+} // namespace
+
+vtkImageData* SkullRemovalService::run(vtkImageData* inputVolume,
+                                      double thr_low,
+                                      double thr_up,
+                                      std::atomic_bool* abortFlag,
+                                      std::function<void(const std::string&, double)> progressCb)
+{
+    if (!inputVolume)
+        throw std::runtime_error("SkullRemovalService::run: inputVolume is null");
+
+    auto isAborted = [&]() -> bool { return abortFlag && abortFlag->load(); };
+
+    if (progressCb) progressCb("Skull masking: preparing pipeline", 0.0);
+    if (isAborted()) return nullptr;
+
+    // VTK -> ITK
+    vtkSmartPointer<vtkImageExport> vtkExporter = vtkSmartPointer<vtkImageExport>::New();
+    vtkExporter->SetInputData(inputVolume);
+
+    auto itkImporter = ImportFilterType::New();
+    ConnectPipelines(vtkExporter.GetPointer(), itkImporter);
+
+    // Pipeline (mirrors old gSkullRemoval::runFilter in a pure form)
+    auto smoothing = CurvatureFlowImageFilterType::New();
+    auto connectedThreshold = ConnectedThresholdImageFilterType::New();
+    auto caster_mask = CastingFilterType::New();
+    auto binaryDilateFilter = DilateFilterType::New();
+    auto binaryErodeFilter = ErodeFilterType::New();
+    auto maskNegatedFilter = MaskNegatedFilterType::New();
+
+    smoothing->SetNumberOfIterations(10);
+    smoothing->SetTimeStep(0.125);
+
+    smoothing->SetInput(itkImporter->GetOutput());
+    connectedThreshold->SetInput(smoothing->GetOutput());
+
+    connectedThreshold->SetLower(static_cast<InternalPixelType>(thr_low));
+    connectedThreshold->SetUpper(static_cast<InternalPixelType>(thr_up));
+    connectedThreshold->SetReplaceValue(255);
+
+    // Seed at volume center
+    connectedThreshold->UpdateOutputInformation();
+    InternalImageType::Pointer in = itkImporter->GetOutput();
+    const auto region = in->GetBufferedRegion();
+    const auto size = region.GetSize();
+    const auto start = region.GetIndex();
+
+    InternalImageType::IndexType seed;
+    seed[0] = start[0] + static_cast<long>(size[0] / 2);
+    seed[1] = start[1] + static_cast<long>(size[1] / 2);
+    seed[2] = start[2] + static_cast<long>(size[2] / 2);
+    connectedThreshold->SetSeed(seed);
+
+    caster_mask->SetInput(connectedThreshold->GetOutput());
+
+    StructuringElementType kernel;
+    kernel.SetRadius(10);
+    kernel.CreateStructuringElement();
+
+    binaryDilateFilter->SetKernel(kernel);
+    binaryErodeFilter->SetKernel(kernel);
+    binaryDilateFilter->SetDilateValue(255);
+    binaryErodeFilter->SetErodeValue(255);
+
+    binaryDilateFilter->SetInput(caster_mask->GetOutput());
+    binaryErodeFilter->SetInput(binaryDilateFilter->GetOutput());
+
+    maskNegatedFilter->SetInput1(itkImporter->GetOutput());
+    maskNegatedFilter->SetInput2(binaryErodeFilter->GetOutput());
+
+    if (progressCb) progressCb("Skull masking: running", 0.5);
+    if (isAborted()) return nullptr;
+
+    try {
+        maskNegatedFilter->Update();
+    } catch (const itk::ExceptionObject& ex) {
+        if (isAborted()) return nullptr;
+        throw std::runtime_error(std::string("SkullRemovalService: ITK exception: ") + ex.GetDescription());
+    }
+
+    if (isAborted()) return nullptr;
+
+    // ITK -> VTK
+    vtkSmartPointer<vtkImageImport> vtkImporter = vtkSmartPointer<vtkImageImport>::New();
+    auto itkExporter = itk::VTKImageExport<InternalImageType>::New();
+    itkExporter->SetInput(maskNegatedFilter->GetOutput());
+    ConnectPipelines(itkExporter, vtkImporter);
+
+    vtkImporter->Update();
+
+    vtkImageData* out = vtkImageData::New();
+    out->DeepCopy(vtkImporter->GetOutput());
+
+    if (progressCb) progressCb("Skull masking: done", 1.0);
+    return out;
+}
diff --git a/SkullRemovalService.h b/SkullRemovalService.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c75ffc6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SkullRemovalService.h
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <atomic>
+#include <functional>
+#include <string>
+
+class vtkImageData;
+
+// Pure skull removal / masking pipeline (no Qt).
+class SkullRemovalService
+{
+public:
+    SkullRemovalService() = default;
+
+    // Returns a NEW vtkImageData* (caller owns; use vtkSmartPointer if you prefer).
+    // Throws std::runtime_error on failure (unless aborted).
+    vtkImageData* run(vtkImageData* inputVolume,
+                      double thr_low,
+                      double thr_up,
+                      std::atomic_bool* abortFlag = nullptr,
+                      std::function<void(const std::string&, double)> progressCb = {});
+};
diff --git a/SkullRemovalWorker.cpp b/SkullRemovalWorker.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bff4a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SkullRemovalWorker.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+#include "SkullRemovalWorker.h"
+#include "SkullRemovalService.h"
+
+#include <vtkImageData.h>
+
+#include <QString>
+
+SkullRemovalWorker::SkullRemovalWorker(QObject* parent)
+    : QObject(parent)
+{
+}
+
+void SkullRemovalWorker::run(vtkImageData* inputVolume, double thr_low, double thr_up)
+{
+    m_abort.store(false);
+    emit skull_mask_upd("Skull masking...", 0.0);
+
+    SkullRemovalService svc;
+    try {
+        vtkImageData* out = svc.run(
+            inputVolume, thr_low, thr_up, &m_abort,
+            [&](const std::string& msg, double p) { emit skull_mask_upd(QString::fromStdString(msg), p * 100.0); });
+
+        if (m_abort.load()) {
+            if (out) out->Delete();
+            emit aborted();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        emit skull_mask_upd("Skull masking done", 100.0);
+        emit skull_mask_end(out); // receiver should Delete() if needed (or deep copy)
+    } catch (const std::exception& e) {
+        if (m_abort.load()) {
+            emit aborted();
+            return;
+        }
+        emit errMsg(QString(e.what()));
+    }
+}
+
+void SkullRemovalWorker::abort()
+{
+    m_abort.store(true);
+}
diff --git a/SkullRemovalWorker.h b/SkullRemovalWorker.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0d89c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SkullRemovalWorker.h
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <QObject>
+#include <atomic>
+
+class vtkImageData;
+
+class SkullRemovalWorker : public QObject
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit SkullRemovalWorker(QObject* parent = nullptr);
+
+public slots:
+    void run(vtkImageData* inputVolume, double thr_low, double thr_up);
+    void abort();
+
+signals:
+    void skull_mask_end(vtkImageData* maskedVolume);
+    void errMsg(QString msg);
+    void skull_mask_upd(QString msg, double val);
+    void aborted();
+
+private:
+    std::atomic_bool m_abort{false};
+};
diff --git a/VolumePrepService.cpp b/VolumePrepService.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06541cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VolumePrepService.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#include "VolumePrepService.h"
+
+#include <vtkImageData.h>
+
+vtkImageData* VolumePrepService::prepare(vtkImageData* input)
+{
+    if (!input) return nullptr;
+    vtkImageData* out = vtkImageData::New();
+    out->DeepCopy(input);
+    out->Modified();
+    return out;
+}
diff --git a/VolumePrepService.h b/VolumePrepService.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4413e39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VolumePrepService.h
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#pragma once
+
+class vtkImageData;
+
+// Simple volume preparation (deep copy / detaching from loader thread).
+class VolumePrepService
+{
+public:
+    vtkImageData* prepare(vtkImageData* input);
+};
diff --git a/VolumePrepWorker.cpp b/VolumePrepWorker.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24da7d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VolumePrepWorker.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#include "VolumePrepWorker.h"
+#include "VolumePrepService.h"
+
+#include <vtkImageData.h>
+
+VolumePrepWorker::VolumePrepWorker(QObject* parent) : QObject(parent) {}
+
+void VolumePrepWorker::run(vtkImageData* input)
+{
+    m_abort.store(false);
+    emit progress(0.0);
+
+    if (m_abort.load()) { emit aborted(); return; }
+
+    VolumePrepService svc;
+    vtkImageData* out = svc.prepare(input);
+
+    if (m_abort.load()) {
+        if (out) out->Delete();
+        emit aborted();
+        return;
+    }
+
+    emit progress(100.0);
+    emit finished(out);
+}
+
+void VolumePrepWorker::abort()
+{
+    m_abort.store(true);
+}
diff --git a/VolumePrepWorker.h b/VolumePrepWorker.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9286c76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VolumePrepWorker.h
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <QObject>
+#include <atomic>
+
+class vtkImageData;
+
+class VolumePrepWorker : public QObject
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit VolumePrepWorker(QObject* parent = nullptr);
+
+public slots:
+    void run(vtkImageData* input);
+    void abort();
+
+signals:
+    void finished(vtkImageData* prepared);
+    void error(QString msg);
+    void progress(double percent);
+    void aborted();
+
+private:
+    std::atomic_bool m_abort{false};
+};
diff --git a/mainw.cpp b/mainw.cpp
index efd6675..c41d7dc 100644
--- a/mainw.cpp
+++ b/mainw.cpp
@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QString p_loadPath){
     loadPatient->moveToThread(loadPatient_thread);
     loadPatient_thread->start();
 
+    // Volume preparation worker (detaches volumes from the loader thread)
+    volumePrep = new VolumePrepWorker;
+    volumePrep_thread = new QThread;
+    volumePrep->moveToThread(volumePrep_thread);
+    volumePrep_thread->start();
+
     qRegisterMetaType< gPatientRTGeneralInfos* >("gPatientRTGeneralInfos *");
     qRegisterMetaType< std::vector<std::string> >("std::vector<std::string>");
     qRegisterMetaType< std::string >("std::string");
@@ -94,7 +100,8 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QString p_loadPath){
     qRegisterMetaType<MarkerList>("MarkerList");
     qRegisterMetaType<LocalizationParams>("LocalizationParams");
 
-    connect(loadPatient, SIGNAL(loadEnd(vtkImageData*)), Visualizer,SLOT(loadVolume (vtkImageData* )));
+    connect(loadPatient, SIGNAL(loadEnd(vtkImageData*)), volumePrep, SLOT(run(vtkImageData* )));
+    connect(volumePrep, SIGNAL(finished(vtkImageData*)), Visualizer, SLOT(loadVolume (vtkImageData* )));
     connect(loadPatient, SIGNAL(folderIsEmpty()),this,SLOT(onParsedEmptyFolder()));
     connect(loadPatient, SIGNAL(parse_result(int , gPatientRTGeneralInfos* )),this,SLOT(onParsedOK(int , gPatientRTGeneralInfos* )));
     connect(loadPatient, SIGNAL(loadedRTIso(double*)),this,SLOT(onRTIsoAvailable(double*)));
@@ -562,7 +569,7 @@ void MainWindow::call_skullMask(){
                               Q_ARG(QString, "Skull masking..." ),
                               Q_ARG(int, 3000));
 
-    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(skullRemoval, "runFilter", Qt::QueuedConnection,
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(skullRemoval, "run", Qt::QueuedConnection,
                               Q_ARG(vtkImageData*, Visualizer->getVolume()),
                               Q_ARG(double, regGrownParameters[1]),
                               Q_ARG(double,regGrownParameters[0]));
diff --git a/mainw.h b/mainw.h
index c34e4af..e73cb11 100644
--- a/mainw.h
+++ b/mainw.h
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@
 
 class Ui_MainWindow;  // forward declaration (defined in ui_mainw.h)
 class gRen;
-class gLoadPatient;
+class DicomScanWorker;
 class LocalizationWorker;
-class gSkullRemoval;
+class SkullRemovalWorker;
+class VolumePrepWorker;
 class gLoadPatDialog;
 
 //#include "wrkDirParser.h"
@@ -19,14 +20,15 @@ class gLoadPatDialog;
 #include "gPatientRTGeneralInfos.h"
 #include "dicomUtils.h"
 #include "connectITKVTK.h"
-#include "gLoadPatient.h"
 
 #include "LocalizationWorker.h"
+#include "DicomScanWorker.h"
+#include "SkullRemovalWorker.h"
+#include "VolumePrepWorker.h"
 #include "types_qt.h"
 
 
 
-#include "gSkullRemoval.h"
 
 
 class gLoadPatDialog: public QDialog{
@@ -65,12 +67,15 @@ private:
    void connectUi(Ui_MainWindow* Ui);
 
    gRen * Visualizer;
-   gLoadPatient* loadPatient;
+   DicomScanWorker* loadPatient;
    QThread* loadPatient_thread;
 
+   VolumePrepWorker* volumePrep{nullptr};
+   QThread* volumePrep_thread{nullptr};
+
    LocalizationWorker* localize_marker{nullptr};
    QThread* localize_thread;
-   gSkullRemoval* skullRemoval;
+   SkullRemovalWorker* skullRemoval;
    QThread* skull_thread;
 
    QStandardItemModel* treeModel;