System and method for generating a 2D image from a tomosynthesis data set

• US 8,571,289 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated, Hoogic, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: Ruth, Chris, Smith, Andrew, Stein, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayat, Ali
• Application Number:
  US12/471,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20100135558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/131, 382/132, 378/23, 378/37, 378/68, 378/154, 378/152, 378/163, 378/165, 378/101
• US Class Current: 382/131
• 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;

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

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

displaying the synthesized mammogram on a display device.

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

3. The method of claim 1 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.

4. The method of claim 3 including the step of wherein the initial reconstruction is the three-dimensional reconstructed image.

5. The method of claim 3 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.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of 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.

7. The method of claim 6 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.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of reconstructing includes the step of orienting said three-dimensional reconstructed tomosynthesis image to a selected plane.

9. 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, wherein the step of reconstructing the plurality of tomosynthesis projection images reconstructs the tomosynthesis projection images onto a first coordinate system to provide a three-dimensional reconstructed image and 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;

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.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of 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.

11. The method of claim 10 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.

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

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of 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.