Title :
Segmentation of microcalcifications in mammograms
Author :
Dengler, Joachim ; Behrens, Sabine ; Desaga, Johann Friedrich
Author_Institution :
German Cancer Res. Center, Inst. of Radiol., Heidelberg, Germany
fDate :
12/1/1993 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A systematic method for the detection and segmentation of microcalcifications in mammograms is presented. It is important to preserve size and shape of the individual calcifications as exactly as possible. A reliable diagnosis requires both rates of false positives as well as false negatives to be extremely low. The proposed approach uses a two-stage algorithm for spot detection and shape extraction. The first stage applies a weighted difference of Gaussians filter for the noise-invariant and size-specific detection of spots. A morphological filter reproduces the shape of the spots. The results of both filters are combined with a conditional thickening operation. The topology and the number of the spots are determined with the first filter, and the shape by means of the second. The algorithm is tested with a series of real mammograms, using identical parameter values for all images. The results are compared with the judgement of radiological experts, and they are very encouraging. The described approach opens up the possibility of a reproducible segmentation of microcalcifications, which is a necessary precondition for an efficient screening program
Keywords :
diagnostic radiography; image segmentation; medical image processing; conditional thickening operation; efficient breast cancer screening program; false negatives; false positives; mammograms; medical diagnostic imaging; microcalcifications segmentation; morphological filter; noise-invariant spot detection; radiological experts judgement; reliable diagnosis; size-specific spot detection; weighted difference of Gaussians filter; Background noise; Breast cancer; Filters; Gaussian processes; Image segmentation; Image texture analysis; Noise shaping; Radiology; Shape; Topology;
Journal_Title :
Medical Imaging, IEEE Transactions on