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Automated detection of microcalcifications in digitized mammogram film images

University of British Columbia

Breast cancer is a disease reaching epidemic proportions in North America with a lifetime incidence rate approaching 1 in 10 women. Microcalcifications are the most common and often the only radiological indicator of early breast cancer. Computer Aided Diagnosis (CADx) prompting techniques that alert radiologists to potential microcalcification abnormalities for re-examination have been demonstrated by several research groups to significantly improve the ability of radiologists to detect clustered microcalcifications. Very little research work has been performed to date to evaluate the performance of microcalcification detection techniques on a common set of images under controlled conditions. We have performed such a comparison on two promising methods from the research literature and four novel methods developed as a part of the work for this thesis. Additionally, the performance of these microcalcification detection methods are evaluated against criteria for the task of prompting screening radiologists for microcalcification cluster. As a part of this thesis work, an improved prototype of the Analytical Imaging Mammography (AIM) system was designed and constructed. This system is intended to provide a flexible platform for mammogram film digitization and analysis. Improvements in the ATM system included: (i) novel hardware and software for automatic, computerized focus and camera position control and (ii) a versatile, friendly user interface. The ATM system was used to digitize an extensive database of mammogram film images obtained from the B.C. Cancer Agency covering the full spectrum of mammographic abnormalities. A sub-set of 30 of these images were selected and used to evaluate the performance of the microcalcification detection methods implemented as a part of this thesis.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-01-20

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/3811

Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace