System and Method for Generating A 2D Image from a Tomosynthesis Data Set

• US 20140086471A1
• Filed: 10/03/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: Ruth, Christopher, Smith, Andrew P., Stein, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 8,897,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/003 Reconstruction from projections, e.g. tomography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/006 Inverse problem, transformation from projection-space into object-space, e.g. transform methods, back-projection, algebraic methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/008 Specific post-processing after tomographic reconstruction, e.g. voxelisation, metal artifact correction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10081 Computed x-ray tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10112 Digital tomosynthesis [DTS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20221 Image fusion; Image merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30068 Mammography; Breast
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30204 Marker
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2008 Assembling, disassembling

Abstract

A 2D mammogram image is synthesized from at least one of tomosynthesis projection images and/or the tomosynthesis reconstructed image data. In a simplest form, the mammogram may be synthesized by selecting one of the tomosynthesis projection images for display as a synthesized mammogram. Other methods of synthesizing a mammogram include re-projecting and filtering projection data and/or reconstructed data. The synthesized mammogram is advantageously displayed together with at least a portion of the reconstructed data to aid in review of the reconstructed data. The present invention thus provides a familiar image which may be used to facilitate review of a tomosynthesis data set.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection images of a patient'"'"'s breast;

synthesizing a two-dimensional mammogram by combining at least a subset of the plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection images using at least one of an algebraic method or a maximum intensity projection method; and

displaying the synthesized mammogram on a display device, wherein the synthesized mammogram refers to a synthesized 2D image that simulates a mammography image.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising filtering at least one of the x-ray tomosynthesis projection images prior to the step of synthesizing.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising reconstructing the plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection images into a three dimensional reconstructed image comprising a plurality of slices and displaying at least one of the plurality of slices.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising displaying sequentially or concurrently the at least one of the plurality of slices and the synthesized mammogram.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising processing at least some of the plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection images and/or the plurality of slices to obtain CAD marks and display the CAD marks on at least one of the plurality of slices and the synthesized mammogram.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the CAD marks displayed on at least one of the plurality of slices is processed and overlaid on the synthesized mammogram.

7. A method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection images of a patient'"'"'s breast;

reconstructing the plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection images into a three dimensional reconstructed image comprising a plurality of slices;

synthesizing a two-dimensional mammogram using at least a subset of the three-dimensional reconstructed image; and

displaying the synthesized mammogram on a display device, wherein the synthesized mammogram refers to a synthesized 2D image that simulates a mammography image.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of reconstructing the plurality of tomosynthesis projection images reconstructs the tomosynthesis projection images onto a first coordinate system to provide an initial reconstruction.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the initial reconstruction is the three-dimensional reconstructed image.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first coordinate system is selected from a group including a Cartesian coordinate system, a cone beam coordinate system and a coordinate system associated with a virtual acquisition system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein reconstructing the plurality of tomosynthesis projection images includes the step projecting the initial reconstruction onto a second, different coordinate system to provide the three-dimensional reconstructed image.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second coordinate system is selected from a group including a Cartesian coordinate system, a cone beam coordinate system and a coordinate system associated with a virtual acquisition system.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein reconstructing includes the step of orienting said three-dimensional reconstructed tomosynthesis image to a selected plane.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein synthesizing includes projecting at least one tomosynthesis slice image having a pixel spacing that differs from a pixel spacing of a mammogram onto a mammogram coordinate system.

15. The method of claim 7 further comprising displaying sequentially or concurrently the at least one of the plurality of slices and the synthesized mammogram.

16. The method of claim 7 further comprising processing at least some of the plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection images and/or the plurality of slices to obtain CAD marks and display the CAD marks on at least one of the plurality of slices and the synthesized mammogram.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the CAD marks displayed on at least one of the plurality of slices is processed and overlaid on the synthesized mammogram.