Using digital subtraction in computer simulated images as a tool to aid the visual detection of masked lesions in dense breasts

Homero Schiabel; Luciana T. Guimarães; Maria A. Z. Sousa

doi:10.1117/12.2081188

18 March 2015 Using digital subtraction in computer simulated images as a tool to aid the visual detection of masked lesions in dense breasts

Homero Schiabel, Luciana T. Guimarães, Maria A. Z. Sousa

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9412, Medical Imaging 2015: Physics of Medical Imaging; 94122T (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2081188
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2015, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

This work proposes a simulation model involving subtraction of digital mammography images obtained at different X-ray beam levels of energy to aid the detection of breast malignant lesions. Absorption coefficients behavior of 3 main structures of clinical interest – adipose tissue, fiber glandular tissue and the typical carcinoma – as a function of the beam energy from a Mo X-ray tube was the basis to develop a computer simulation of the possible acquired images. The simulation has considered a typical compressed breast with 4.5cm in thickness, and variations of the carcinoma and glandular tissues thicknesses - 0.4 up to 2.0cm and 4.1 to 2.5cm, respectively - were evaluated as a function of the photons mean energy - 14 up to 25 keV, in the typical mammography energy range. Results have shown that: (a) if the carcinoma thickness is over 0.4cm, its detection may be feasible even masked by fiber tissue with exposures in the range of 19 to 25 keV; (b) for masked carcinoma with thickness in the range of 0.4-2.0cm, the proposed procedure can enhance it in the image resulting from the digital subtraction between images obtained at 14 and at 22 keV. Therefore such results indicate that this simulation procedure can be a useful tool in aiding the identification of possible missed malignant lesions which could not be detected in the typical exam, mainly considering dense breasts.

Citation Download Citation

Homero Schiabel, Luciana T. Guimarães, and Maria A. Z. Sousa "Using digital subtraction in computer simulated images as a tool to aid the visual detection of masked lesions in dense breasts", Proc. SPIE 9412, Medical Imaging 2015: Physics of Medical Imaging, 94122T (18 March 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2081188

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available