Full-field breast image data processing and archiving

• US 8,184,882 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2011
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: U-System Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: U-System Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Yu, Zengpin, Wang, Shih-Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): STREGE, JOHN B
• Application Number:
  US13/072,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20110288414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 705/2, 705/3, 705/7.13, 705/7.16
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5235 combining images from the same or different ionising radiation imaging techniques, e.g. PET and CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5238 for combining image data of patient, e.g. merging several images from different acquisition modes into one image for image registration algorithms G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A system, computer program product, and related methods are described for obtaining, processing, and/or and archiving full-field breast image data, such as full-field breast ultrasound (FFBU) data, in a manner that promotes ready integration with current x-ray mammogram-based breast cancer screening methodologies, and which can alternatively be used to support a full-field-only environment. Two-dimensional thick-slice images computed from a three-dimensional data volume are used to facilitate efficient archiving for a breast imaging session, the two-dimensional thick-slice images corresponding to slab-like subvolumes of the breast. Clinician data overload problems that can arise from the existence of large amounts of three-dimensional full-field breast image data are reduced. Archive space is also preserved while still providing sufficient information data for future reference purposes. Related adjunctive full-field workflow methods are also described. The described embodiments are applicable to FFBU imaging and other full-field breast imaging modalities such as MRI, CT, PET, and others.

Claims

1. A method for breast cancer screening, comprising:

prior to an x-ray screening mammography visit to a medical clinic by a patient, accessing previously recorded information corresponding to that patient;

comparing using a computer said previously recorded information to preselected qualifying criteria for determining whether the patient should receive adjunctive breast ultrasound screening during the x-ray screening mammography visit, wherein said previously recorded information includes a breast density metric previously determined for the patient, and wherein said determining is based at least in part on said breast density metric in that increasingly higher indications for adjunctive breast ultrasound screening are associated with increasingly dense-breasted patients;

scheduling the patient for both an a x-ray mammogram acquisition and an adjunctive breast ultrasound acquisition during said x-ray screening mammography visit if it is determined at said comparing step that the patient should receive adjunctive breast ultrasound screening;

scheduling the patient for an a x-ray mammogram acquisition alone without an adjunctive breast ultrasound acquisition during said x-ray screening mammography visit if it is not determined at said comparing step that the patient should receive adjunctive breast ultrasound screening;

during said x-ray screening mammography visit, obtaining at least one x-ray mammogram of the patient'"'"'s breasts;

during said x-ray screening mammography visit, acquiring volumetric ultrasound scans of at least one of patient'"'"'s breasts prior to releasing the patient from the x-ray screening mammography visit if the patient is scheduled for the adjunctive breast ultrasound acquisition, said acquiring volumetric ultrasound scans comprising compressing the breast along a compression plane and scanning the breast using a compression and scanning assembly of an automated breast ultrasound scanning device; and

computer implemented generating for each breast a plurality of two-dimensional ultrasound images from said volumetric ultrasound scans, each ultrasound image representing a sonographic property of a corresponding slice of the breast substantially parallel to said compression plane; and

for each breast, viewing on a computer display at least one diagnostic-quality image derived from said at least one x-ray mammogram in conjunction with one or more of said two-dimensional ultrasound images for detecting suspicious lesions therein.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said previously recorded information further comprises age, medical history, and/or family history information corresponding to said patient, and wherein said determining is based at least in part on said age, medical history, and/or family history information in that increasingly higher indications for adjunctive breast ultrasound screening are associated with age, medical history, and/or family history information statistically linked to higher rates of breast cancer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said compression plane is a first compression plane, the method further comprising:

if it is determined that the patient should receive adjunctive breast ultrasound screening during the x-ray screening mammography visit, comparing said previously recorded information to preselected interest-heightening criteria to determine whether a more extensive ultrasonic scanning process should be carried out; and

if it is determined that the more extensive ultrasonic scanning process should be carried out, acquiring additional volumetric ultrasound scans of at least one of patient'"'"'s breasts prior to releasing the patient from the x-ray screening mammography visit, comprising compressing the breast along at least one additional compression plane different than said first compression plane and scanning the breast using the compression and scanning assembly of the automated breast ultrasound scanning device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said interest-heightening criteria includes one or more criteria from the group consisting of:

a previous clinician assessment of BI-RAD Category 3 or higher for the patient; and

a previous lumpectomy procedure for the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said previously recorded information further includes previously acquired x-ray mammograms for the patient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said previously recorded information further comprises geographic and/or demographic information related to said patient, and wherein said determining is based at least in part on said geographic and/or demographic information in that increasingly higher indications for adjunctive breast ultrasound screening are associated with geographic and/or demographic information statistically linked to higher rates of breast cancer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said previously recorded information further comprises financial and/or reimbursement related information, and wherein said determining is based at least in part on said financial and/or reimbursement related information in that increasingly higher indications for adjunctive breast ultrasound screening are associated with financial and/or reimbursement related information indicative of an increasing ability for the adjunctive breast ultrasound screening to be financially compensated.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each said two-dimensional ultrasound image is a thick-slice image representing sonographic properties of a corresponding slab-like volume of the breast substantially parallel to said compression plane and having a thickness between about 2 mm and 20 mm.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said obtaining at least one x-ray mammogram comprises compressing each breast along a standard x-ray mammogram view plane, and wherein said compression plane is substantially parallel to said standard x-ray mammogram view plane.

10. A method for breast cancer screening, comprising:

prior to an x-ray mammogram visit to a medical clinic by a patient, accessing previously recorded medical information corresponding to that patient;

during said x-ray mammogram visit, obtaining at least one x-ray mammogram of the patient'"'"'s breasts, including compressing each breast along at least one standard x-ray mammogram view plane;

comparing using a computer said previously recorded medical information to preselected qualifying criteria for determining whether the patient should receive adjunctive breast ultrasound screening; and

if it is determined at said comparing step that the patient should receive adjunctive breast ultrasound screening;

acquiring volumetric ultrasound scans of the patient'"'"'s breasts prior to releasing the patient from said x-ray mammogram visit, said acquiring including compressing each breast along said at least one standard x-ray mammogram view plane;

generating, using a computer, for each breast a plurality of two-dimensional thick-slice images, each thick-slice image representing sonographic properties of a corresponding slab-like volume of the breast substantially parallel to said standard x-ray mammogram view plane and having a thickness between about 2 mm and 20 mm; and

for each breast, viewing on a computer display at least one diagnostic-quality image derived from said at least one x-ray mammogram in conjunction with one or more of said thick-slice images for detecting suspicious lesions therein.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said prerecorded medical information comprises prior x-ray mammogram information for said patient.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said obtaining the at least one x-ray mammogram of the patient'"'"'s breasts including compressing each breast along two standard x-ray mammogram view planes, wherein said prior x-ray mammogram information includes at least one prior clinician assessment, and wherein said acquiring volumetric ultrasound scans further comprises compressing each breast along said at least two standard x-ray mammogram view planes if said prior clinician assessment corresponds to a predetermined threshold severity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said predetermined threshold severity corresponds to a BI-RAD Category 3 Assessment indicating a suggested short-interval follow-up.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said prerecorded medical information comprises demographic information corresponding to said patient.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said preselected qualifying criteria comprises government or insurance reimbursement qualifying criteria.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said prerecorded medical information comprises a dense-breast indicator from a previous evaluation, and wherein said predetermined qualifying criteria indicates increasingly positive adjunctive ultrasound mammography determination levels for increasingly dense-breasted patients.

17. A system for facilitating breast cancer screening in a medical clinic, comprising:

a medical information database storing previously recorded information corresponding to a population of patients, said previously recorded information including breast density information for each patient;

a scheduling processor configured and programmed to;

access from said medical information database, prior to an x-ray screening mammography visit to the medical clinic by a patient, the previously recorded information corresponding to that patient;

compare said previously recorded information to preselected qualifying criteria for determining whether the patient should receive adjunctive breast ultrasound screening during the x-ray screening mammography visit, wherein said determining is based at least in part on said breast density information in that increasingly higher indications for adjunctive breast ultrasound screening are associated with increasingly dense-breasted patients;

schedule the patient for both an a x-ray mammogram acquisition and an adjunctive breast ultrasound acquisition during said x-ray screening mammography visit if it is determined by said comparison that the patient should receive adjunctive breast ultrasound screening;

schedule the patient for an a x-ray mammogram acquisition alone without an adjunctive breast ultrasound acquisition during said x-ray screening mammography visit if it is not determined by said comparison that the patient should receive adjunctive breast ultrasound screening;

an x-ray mammography acquisition device for obtaining at least one x-ray mammogram of each of the patient'"'"'s breasts;

an automated breast ultrasound scanning device including a compression and scanning assembly configured to acquire a volumetric ultrasound scan of each breast of the patient while compressing the breast along a compression plane; and

a review workstation including at least one processor and at least one display device and being configured and programmed to;

generate for each breast a plurality of two-dimensional ultrasound images from said volumetric ultrasound scans, each ultrasound image representing a sonographic property of a corresponding slice of the breast substantially parallel to said compression plane; and

display on said display device at least one diagnostic-quality image derived from said at least one x-ray mammogram in conjunction with one or more of said two-dimensional ultrasound images for facilitating detection of suspicious lesions therein.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said previously recorded information further comprises geographic and/or demographic information corresponding to said patient, and wherein said determining is based at least in part on said geographic and/or demographic information in that increasingly higher indications for adjunctive breast ultrasound screening are associated with geographic and/or demographic information statistically linked to higher rates of breast cancer.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein each said two-dimensional ultrasound image is a thick-slice image representing sonographic properties of a corresponding slab-like volume of the breast substantially parallel to said compression plane and having a thickness between about 2 mm and 20 mm.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said obtaining at least one x-ray mammogram comprises compressing each breast along a standard x-ray mammogram view plane, and wherein said compression plane is substantially parallel to said standard x-ray mammogram view plane.