Temporal Subtraction of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Images for Improved Mass Detection

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to determine the feasibility of using temporal subtraction on Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) phantom images to allow for easier and earlier detection of breast cancer than with either technique alone. The ultimate goal of project would be applied to human subject data. Therefore, initial feasibility was tested on temporally spaced DBT images of human subjects. The investigator implemented a temporal subtraction algorithm using a rigid registration technique. However, the resulting subtraction showed many misregistration errors likely due to differences in positioning and compression forces used during the temporally spaced acquisitions. This work has demonstrated that temporal subtraction of DBT images is most likely infeasible, although may be possible with fully 3D images such as dedicated breast CT data. The investigator is currently developing a 3D computer simulated breast phantom, a specific aim of proposal. Dedicated breast CT data was used as the basis for the phantom. In order to create the phantom, several methods are under development: an automated segmentation algorithm, a compression algorithm, and a simulated image acquisition algorithm. The phantom resulting from this work will combine the realism of empirical data with the flexibility of mathematical models. The phantom will incorporate information from breast models of several different human subjects and include the ability to change the breasts' size, composition, and compressibility.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA500912

Entities

People

  • Christina M. Li
  • James T. Dobbins Iii

Organizations

  • Duke University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Algorithms
  • Bioengineering
  • Breast Cancer
  • Computer Simulations
  • Data Compression
  • Data Sets
  • Detection
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Image Processing
  • Mathematical Models
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Neoplasms
  • Radiation Protection
  • Three Dimensional
  • Tomography
  • X-Ray Computed Tomography

Fields of Study

  • Medicine
  • Physics

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Computer Vision.
  • Medical Imaging.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects