Computer-aided detection of anatomical abnormalities in x-ray tomosynthesis images
First Claim
1. A method for computer-aided detection (CAD) of anatomical abnormalities in a breast volume based on a plurality of two-dimensional x-ray tomosynthesis projection images thereof acquired at a respective plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection angles, comprising:
- for each of the plurality of projection images, processing that projection image separately from the other projection images according to at least one predetermined feature extraction algorithm to generate at least one projection feature array corresponding thereto;
for each of the at least one predetermined features extracted, backprojecting the plurality of corresponding projection feature arrays according to a predetermined tomosynthesis reconstruction algorithm to form a plurality of two-dimensional tomosynthesis reconstructed feature arrays, the imaged breast volume having a three-dimensional geometry characterized by a number of levels and a number of pixels per level, wherein said plurality of two-dimensional tomosynthesis reconstructed feature arrays collectively occupy said three-dimensional geometry;
individually classifying each pixel in each level of said three-dimensional geometry as being one of (i) a pixel of interest and (ii) not a pixel of interest based upon the at least one tomosynthesis reconstructed feature array value corresponding to that pixel location; and
generating CAD detections for the breast volume based on the identified pixels of interest.
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and related computer program products for computer-aided detection (CAD) of anatomical abnormalities in a breast volume based on a plurality of two-dimensional x-ray tomosynthesis projection images thereof is described. Each projection image is processed according to at least one predetermined feature extraction algorithm to generate at least one projection feature array corresponding thereto. For each of the at least one predetermined features extracted, the plurality of corresponding projection feature arrays is backprojected according to a predetermined tomosynthesis reconstruction algorithm to form a plurality of two-dimensional tomosynthesis reconstructed feature arrays. Each pixel in the three-dimensional breast geometry is then individually classified as being either a pixel of interest, or not a pixel of interest, based upon the at least one tomosynthesis reconstructed feature array value corresponding to that pixel. CAD detections for the breast volume are then generated based on the identified pixels of interest.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for computer-aided detection (CAD) of anatomical abnormalities in a breast volume based on a plurality of two-dimensional x-ray tomosynthesis projection images thereof acquired at a respective plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection angles, comprising:
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for each of the plurality of projection images, processing that projection image separately from the other projection images according to at least one predetermined feature extraction algorithm to generate at least one projection feature array corresponding thereto; for each of the at least one predetermined features extracted, backprojecting the plurality of corresponding projection feature arrays according to a predetermined tomosynthesis reconstruction algorithm to form a plurality of two-dimensional tomosynthesis reconstructed feature arrays, the imaged breast volume having a three-dimensional geometry characterized by a number of levels and a number of pixels per level, wherein said plurality of two-dimensional tomosynthesis reconstructed feature arrays collectively occupy said three-dimensional geometry; individually classifying each pixel in each level of said three-dimensional geometry as being one of (i) a pixel of interest and (ii) not a pixel of interest based upon the at least one tomosynthesis reconstructed feature array value corresponding to that pixel location; and generating CAD detections for the breast volume based on the identified pixels of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for detecting suspicious microcalcifications in a breast volume based on a plurality of two-dimensional x-ray tomosynthesis projection images thereof acquired at a respective plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection angles, the system comprising a processor programmed to perform the steps of:
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jointly processing the plurality of projection images to generate a noise compensation function based on joint noise statistics in the plurality of projection images; processing each of said plurality of projection images using a microcalcification-enhancing filter, a spatial smoothing filter, and said noise compensation function to generate a respective plurality of projection noise-compensated microcalcification feature arrays; backprojecting said plurality of projection noise-compensated microcalcification feature arrays according to a predetermined tomosynthesis reconstruction algorithm to form a plurality of two-dimensional tomosynthesis reconstructed feature arrays, the imaged breast volume having a three-dimensional geometry characterized by a number of levels and a number of pixels per level, wherein said plurality of two-dimensional tomosynthesis reconstructed feature arrays collectively occupy said three-dimensional geometry; individually classifying each pixel in each level of said three-dimensional geometry as being one of (i) a pixel of interest and (ii) not a pixel of interest based upon the at least one tomosynthesis reconstructed feature array value corresponding to that pixel location; and processing the identified pixels of interest to detect suspicious microcalcifications in the breast volume. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer readable medium embodying a computer program product for performing computer-aided detection (CAD) of anatomical abnormalities in a breast volume based on a plurality of two-dimensional x-ray tomosynthesis projection images thereof acquired at a respective plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection angles, comprising:
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computer code for programming a tomosynthesis processor to process each of the plurality of projection images according to at least one predetermined feature extraction algorithm to generate at least one projection feature array corresponding thereto; computer code for programming a tomosynthesis processor to back project, for each of the at least one predetermined features extracted, the plurality of corresponding projection feature arrays according to a predetermined tomosynthesis reconstruction algorithm to form a plurality of two-dimensional tomosynthesis reconstructed feature arrays, the imaged breast volume having a three-dimensional geometry characterized by a number of levels and a number of pixels per level, wherein said plurality of two-dimensional tomosynthesis reconstructed feature arrays collectively occupy said three-dimensional geometry; computer code for programming a tomosynthesis CAD processor to individually classify each pixel in each level of said three-dimensional geometry as being one of (i) a pixel of interest and (ii) not a pixel of interest based upon the at least one tomosynthesis reconstructed feature array value corresponding to that pixel location; and computer code for programming a tomosynthesis CAD processor to generate CAD detections for the breast volume based on the identified pixels of interest. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification