Method and system for differential diagnosis based on clinical and radiological information using artificial neural networks
First Claim
1. A method for differential diagnosis of a plurality of breast diseases, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a plurality of clinical parameters defining characteristics of a subject;
selecting radiographic descriptors comprising predetermined features obtained from a radiographic breast image defining characteristics of breast diseases, said radiographic descriptors consisting essentially of each of the following twelve radiographic descriptors;
shape of density, size of density, margin of density, margin spiculation and pattern of density, presence of, number of, shape of, uniformity of, and distribution of microcalcifications, parenchymal distortion and skin thickening;
converting said plurality of clinical parameters and said radiographic descriptors into numerical expressions;
transforming each of said numerical expressions into a number in a predetermined range;
inputting said transformed numerical expressions into a neural network; and
diagnosing at least one of said plurality of breast diseases using said neural network in accordance with said input expressions.
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Abstract
A method and system for computer-aided differential diagnosis of diseases, and in particular, computer-aided differential diagnosis using neural networks. A first embodiment of the neural network distinguishes between a plurality of interstitial lung diseases on the basis of inputted clinical parameters and radiographic information. A second embodiment distinguishes between malignant and benign mammographic cases based upon similar inputted clinical and radiographic information. The neural networks were first trained using a hypothetical data base made up of hypothetical cases for each of the interstitial lung diseases and for malignant and benign cases. The performance of the neural network was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. The decision performance of the neural network was compared to experienced radiologists and achieved a high performance comparable to that of the experienced radiologists. The neural network according to the invention can be made up of a single network or a plurality of successive or parallel networks. The neural network according to the invention can also be interfaced to a computer which provides computerized automated lung texture analysis to supply radiographic input data in an objective and automated manner.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for differential diagnosis of a plurality of breast diseases, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a plurality of clinical parameters defining characteristics of a subject; selecting radiographic descriptors comprising predetermined features obtained from a radiographic breast image defining characteristics of breast diseases, said radiographic descriptors consisting essentially of each of the following twelve radiographic descriptors; shape of density, size of density, margin of density, margin spiculation and pattern of density, presence of, number of, shape of, uniformity of, and distribution of microcalcifications, parenchymal distortion and skin thickening; converting said plurality of clinical parameters and said radiographic descriptors into numerical expressions; transforming each of said numerical expressions into a number in a predetermined range; inputting said transformed numerical expressions into a neural network; and diagnosing at least one of said plurality of breast diseases using said neural network in accordance with said input expressions. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for differential diagnosis of a plurality of interstitial lung diseases, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a plurality of clinical parameters defining characteristics of a subject; selecting radiographic descriptors comprising predetermined features obtained from a radiographic chest image defining characteristics of interstitial lung diseases, said radiographic descriptors consisting essentially of each of the following fourteen radiographic descriptors; distribution of infiltrates in 6 lung zones, homogeneity, fineness, nodularity, septal lines and honeycombing of said infiltrates, lymphadenopathy, pleural effusions and heart size; converting said plurality of clinical parameters and said radiographic descriptors into numerical expressions; transforming each of said numerical expressions into a number in a predetermined range; inputting said transformed numerical expressions into a neural network; and diagnosing at least one of said plurality of interstitial lung diseases using said neural network in accordance with said input expressions. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for differential diagnosis of plurality of predetermined interstitial lung diseases using an incomplete set of input data, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a plurality of clinical parameters defining characteristics of a subject; selecting radiographic descriptors comprising predetermined features obtained from a radiographic chest image defining characteristics of interstitial lung diseases, said radiographic descriptors consisting essentially of each of the following fourteen radiographic descriptors; distribution of infiltrates in 6 lung zones, homogeneity, fineness, nodularity, septal lines and honeycombing of said infiltrates, and lymphadenopathy, pleural effusions and heart size; forming a complete set of input data comprising said plurality of clinical parameters and said radiographic descriptors; converting said plurality of clinical parameters and said radiographic descriptors into numerical expressions; transforming each of said numerical expressions into a number in a predetermined range; training a neural network to identify each of said plurality of predetermined interstitial lung diseases using a database of said complete set of input data; inputting said transformed numerical expressions into said neural network, said input expressions representing incomplete sets of input data; and diagnosing at least one of said plurality of predetermined interstitial lung diseases in accordance with said input expressions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for differential diagnosis of a plurality of breast diseases using an incomplete set of input data, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a plurality of clinical parameters defining characteristics of a subject; selecting radiographic descriptors comprising predetermined features obtained from a radiographic breast image defining characteristics of breast diseases, said radiographic descriptors consisting essentially of each of the following twelve radiographic descriptors; shape of density, size of density, margin of density, margin spiculation and pattern of density, presence of, number of, shape of, uniformity of, and distribution of microcalcifications, parenchymal distortion and skin thickening; forming a complete set of input data comprising said clinical parameters and said plurality of radiographic descriptors; converting said plurality of clinical parameters and said radiographic descriptors into numerical expressions; transforming each of said numerical expressions into a number in a predetermined range; training a neural network to identify each of said plurality of breast diseases using a database of said complete set of input data; inputting said transformed numerical expressions into a neural network, said input expressions representing incomplete sets of input data; and diagnosing at least one of said plurality of breast diseases using said neural network in accordance with said input expressions. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification