KEYWORDS: Spatial resolution, Breast, Digital breast tomosynthesis, Digital imaging, Image quality, Computer simulations, Breast cancer, 3D image processing, Signal to noise ratio, Interference (communication), 3D modeling, Reconstruction algorithms
Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has been shown to be an effective imaging tool for breast cancer diagnosis as it provides three-dimensional images of the breast with minimal tissue overlap. The quality of the reconstructed image depends on many factors that can be assessed using uniform or realistic phantoms. In this paper, we created four models of phantoms using an anthropomorphic software breast phantom and compared four methods to evaluate the gray scale response in terms of the contrast, noise and detectability of adipose and glandular tissues binarized according to phantom ground truth. For each method, circular regions of interest (ROIs) were selected with various sizes, quantity and positions inside a square area in the phantom. We also estimated the percent density of the simulated breast and the capability of distinguishing both tissues by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results shows a sensitivity of the methods to the ROI size, placement and to the slices considered.
KEYWORDS: Mammography, Breast, Digital mammography, Breast cancer, Image quality, Tissues, Image analysis, Computer aided diagnosis and therapy, Digital imaging, Data acquisition
Numerous breast phantoms have been developed to be as realistic as possible to ensure the accuracy of image quality analysis, covering a greater range of applications. In this study, we simulated three different densities of the breast parenchyma using paraffin gel, acrylic plates and PVC films. Hydroxyapatite was used to simulate calcification clusters. From the images acquired with a GE Senographe DR 2000D mammography system, we selected 68 regions of interest (ROIs) with and 68 without a simulated calcification cluster. To validate the phantom simulation, we selected 136 ROIs from the University of South Florida’s Digital Database for Screening Mammography (DDSM). Seven trained observers performed two observer experiments by using a high-resolution monitor Barco mod. E-3620. In the first experiment, the observers had to distinguish between real or phantom ROIs (with and without calcification). In the second one, the observers had to indicate the ROI with calcifications between a pair of ROIs. Results from our study show that the hydroxyapatite calcifications had poor contrast in the simulated breast parenchyma, thus observers had more difficulty in identifying the presence of calcification clusters in phantom images. Preliminary analysis of the power spectrum was conducted to investigate the radiographic density and the contrast thresholds for calcification detection. The values obtained for the power spectrum exponent (β) were comparable with those found in the literature.
The task of identifying the malignancy of nodular lesions on mammograms becomes quite complex due to overlapped structures or even to the granular fibrous tissue which can cause confusion in classifying masses shape, leading to unnecessary biopsies. Efforts to develop methods for automatic masses detection in CADe (Computer Aided Detection) schemes have been made with the aim of assisting radiologists and working as a second opinion. The validation of these methods may be accomplished for instance by using databases with clinical images or acquired through breast phantoms. With this aim, some types of materials were tested in order to produce radiographic phantom images which could characterize a good enough approach to the typical mammograms corresponding to actual breast nodules. Therefore different nodules patterns were physically produced and used on a previous developed breast phantom. Their characteristics were tested according to the digital images obtained from phantom exposures at a LORAD M-IV mammography unit. Two analysis were realized the first one by the segmentation of regions of interest containing the simulated nodules by an automated segmentation technique as well as by an experienced radiologist who has delineated the contour of each nodule by means of a graphic display digitizer. Both results were compared by using evaluation metrics. The second one used measure of quality Structural Similarity (SSIM) to generate quantitative data related to the texture produced by each material. Although all the tested materials proved to be suitable for the study, the PVC film yielded the best results.
KEYWORDS: Tissues, Breast, Computer simulations, Absorption, X-rays, Signal attenuation, Digital mammography, Mammography, X-ray imaging, Monte Carlo methods
This work proposes a simulation model involving subtraction of digital mammography images obtained at different X-ray
beam levels of energy to aid the detection of breast malignant lesions. Absorption coefficients behavior of 3 main
structures of clinical interest – adipose tissue, fiber glandular tissue and the typical carcinoma – as a function of the beam
energy from a Mo X-ray tube was the basis to develop a computer simulation of the possible acquired images. The
simulation has considered a typical compressed breast with 4.5cm in thickness, and variations of the carcinoma and
glandular tissues thicknesses - 0.4 up to 2.0cm and 4.1 to 2.5cm, respectively - were evaluated as a function of the
photons mean energy - 14 up to 25 keV, in the typical mammography energy range. Results have shown that: (a) if the
carcinoma thickness is over 0.4cm, its detection may be feasible even masked by fiber tissue with exposures in the range
of 19 to 25 keV; (b) for masked carcinoma with thickness in the range of 0.4-2.0cm, the proposed procedure can enhance
it in the image resulting from the digital subtraction between images obtained at 14 and at 22 keV. Therefore such results
indicate that this simulation procedure can be a useful tool in aiding the identification of possible missed malignant
lesions which could not be detected in the typical exam, mainly considering dense breasts.
A large number of breast phantoms have been developed for conducting quality tests, characterization of imaging systems and computer aided diagnosis schemes, dosimetry and image perception. The realism of these phantoms is important for ensuring the accuracy of results and a greater range of applications. In this work, a developed phantom is considered proposing the use of PVC films for simulation of nodules inserted in the breast parenchyma designed for classification between malignant and benign signals according to the BI-RADS® standard. The investigation includes analysis of radiographic density, mass shape and its corresponding contour outlined by experienced radiologists. The material was cut based on lesions margins found in 44 clinical cases, which were divided between circumscribed and spiculated structures. Tests were performed to check the ability of the specialists in distinguishing the contour compared to actual cases while the shapes accuracy was determined quantitatively by evaluation metrics. Results showed the applicability of the chosen material creating image radiological patterns very similar to the actual ones.
A major difficulty in the interpretation of mammographic images is the low contrast and, in the case of early detection of breast cancer, the reduced size of the features of malignancy on findings such as microcalcifications. Furthermore, image assessment is subject to significant reliance of the capacity of observation of the expert that will perform it, compromising the final diagnosis accuracy. Thinking about this aspect, this study evaluated the subjectivity of visual inspection to assess the contrast-detail in mammographic images. For this, we compared the human readings of images generated with the CDMAM phantom performed by four observers, enabling to determining a threshold of contrast visibility in each diameter disks present in the phantom. These thresholds were compared graphically and by statistical measures allowing us to build a strategy for use of contrast and detail (dimensions) as parameters of quality in mammography.
Mammogram acquisition in digital format is one of the most relevant steps for image processing in computer-aided detection schemes for mammography. We investigate film digitizer systems using different technologies to determine their influence on the results of mammography image segmentation schemes. It also provides image scanning process regardless of the technology by the development of automatic software based on the digitizers’ characteristic curves. Comparative assessment of digitizer properties and features is performed as well as the software for managing the digitized image acquisition. The images were obtained from six different digitizers and evaluated by means of statistical analysis. Tests were conducted for comparing the responses from each equipment, regarding their respective curves, and they have presented significant variations relative to the original characteristic curve of high quality films used as reference—which largely influence the performance of processing schemes applied on sets of mammography images digitized by those systems. However, when our proposed scanning software was applied with intensity transformation procedure based on the characteristic curve “correction,” the images were comparable to the film optical density, which has improved the processing technique’s performance. The results have pointed out it is possible to achieve high sensitivity and performance of such schemes even with low-cost digitizer systems since their quality characteristics are well known and the procedure herein proposed is used within the mammogram scanning process.
Taking into account requirements for processing digital mammograms, systems dealing with the optimization of images
acquisition need to be adequately evaluated. The processes for generating these images are varied and they can be
grouped mainly in two categories: (1) films scanned by specialized digitizers; (2) images obtained from electronic
sensors associated to digital converters (CR and DR systems). The main two types of different scanners are those with
white light-based detection and CCD sensors and with a scanning laser beam. Thus the current investigation aims to
perform quality evaluation of film digitizers, mainly addressed to mammography. In this analysis the following
parameters were studied: digitizers characteristic curves - relating the pixel value assigned to a region and the
corresponding optical density of the film on the same region; noise - obtained by the Wiener spectrum; and
reproducibility - evaluating whether a device used to capture a digital image can be reliable in subsequent scans. Six
different digitizer equipments were investigated with purposes of determining tools to enhance the image quality based
on their characteristics. The results have indicated that although the most sophisticated scanners have the best
characteristics among those evaluated, knowledge about the scanner behavior can allow developing procedures to
provide the adequate quality image for processing schemes.
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