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Title: Computerized nipple identification for multiple image analysis in computer-aided diagnosis

Abstract

Correlation of information from multiple-view mammograms (e.g., MLO and CC views, bilateral views, or current and prior mammograms) can improve the performance of breast cancer diagnosis by radiologists or by computer. The nipple is a reliable and stable landmark on mammograms for the registration of multiple mammograms. However, accurate identification of nipple location on mammograms is challenging because of the variations in image quality and in the nipple projections, resulting in some nipples being nearly invisible on the mammograms. In this study, we developed a computerized method to automatically identify the nipple location on digitized mammograms. First, the breast boundary was obtained using a gradient-based boundary tracking algorithm, and then the gray level profiles along the inside and outside of the boundary were identified. A geometric convergence analysis was used to limit the nipple search to a region of the breast boundary. A two-stage nipple detection method was developed to identify the nipple location using the gray level information around the nipple, the geometric characteristics of nipple shapes, and the texture features of glandular tissue or ducts which converge toward the nipple. At the first stage, a rule-based method was designed to identify the nipple location by detecting significant changesmore » of intensity along the gray level profiles inside and outside the breast boundary and the changes in the boundary direction. At the second stage, a texture orientation-field analysis was developed to estimate the nipple location based on the convergence of the texture pattern of glandular tissue or ducts towards the nipple. The nipple location was finally determined from the detected nipple candidates by a rule-based confidence analysis. In this study, 377 and 367 randomly selected digitized mammograms were used for training and testing the nipple detection algorithm, respectively. Two experienced radiologists identified the nipple locations which were used as the gold standard. In the training data set, 301 nipples were positively identified and were referred to as visible nipples. Seventy six nipples could not be positively identified and were referred to as invisible nipples. The radiologists provided their estimation of the nipple locations in the latter group for comparison with the computer estimates. The computerized method could detect 89.37% (269/301) of the visible nipples and 69.74% (53/76) of the invisible nipples within 1 cm of the gold standard. In the test data set, 298 and 69 of the nipples were classified as visible and invisible, respectively. 92.28% (275/298) of the visible nipples and 53.62% (37/69) of the invisible nipples were identified within 1 cm of the gold standard. The results demonstrate that the nipple locations on digitized mammograms can be accurately detected if they are visible and can be reasonably estimated if they are invisible. Automated nipple detection will be an important step towards multiple image analysis for CAD.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20634605
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Medical Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 31; Journal Issue: 10; Other Information: DOI: 10.1118/1.1800713; (c) 2004 American Association of Physicists in Medicine; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0094-2405
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; ALGORITHMS; BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY; DIAGNOSIS; IMAGE PROCESSING; IMAGES; MAMMARY GLANDS; NEOPLASMS; PERFORMANCE

Citation Formats

Chuan, Zhou, Heangping, Chan, Paramagul, Chintana, Roubidoux, Marilyn A, Sahiner, Berkman, Hadjiiski, Labomir M, and Petrick, Nicholas. Computerized nipple identification for multiple image analysis in computer-aided diagnosis. United States: N. p., 2004. Web. doi:10.1118/1.1800713.
Chuan, Zhou, Heangping, Chan, Paramagul, Chintana, Roubidoux, Marilyn A, Sahiner, Berkman, Hadjiiski, Labomir M, & Petrick, Nicholas. Computerized nipple identification for multiple image analysis in computer-aided diagnosis. United States. https://doi.org/10.1118/1.1800713
Chuan, Zhou, Heangping, Chan, Paramagul, Chintana, Roubidoux, Marilyn A, Sahiner, Berkman, Hadjiiski, Labomir M, and Petrick, Nicholas. 2004. "Computerized nipple identification for multiple image analysis in computer-aided diagnosis". United States. https://doi.org/10.1118/1.1800713.
@article{osti_20634605,
title = {Computerized nipple identification for multiple image analysis in computer-aided diagnosis},
author = {Chuan, Zhou and Heangping, Chan and Paramagul, Chintana and Roubidoux, Marilyn A and Sahiner, Berkman and Hadjiiski, Labomir M and Petrick, Nicholas},
abstractNote = {Correlation of information from multiple-view mammograms (e.g., MLO and CC views, bilateral views, or current and prior mammograms) can improve the performance of breast cancer diagnosis by radiologists or by computer. The nipple is a reliable and stable landmark on mammograms for the registration of multiple mammograms. However, accurate identification of nipple location on mammograms is challenging because of the variations in image quality and in the nipple projections, resulting in some nipples being nearly invisible on the mammograms. In this study, we developed a computerized method to automatically identify the nipple location on digitized mammograms. First, the breast boundary was obtained using a gradient-based boundary tracking algorithm, and then the gray level profiles along the inside and outside of the boundary were identified. A geometric convergence analysis was used to limit the nipple search to a region of the breast boundary. A two-stage nipple detection method was developed to identify the nipple location using the gray level information around the nipple, the geometric characteristics of nipple shapes, and the texture features of glandular tissue or ducts which converge toward the nipple. At the first stage, a rule-based method was designed to identify the nipple location by detecting significant changes of intensity along the gray level profiles inside and outside the breast boundary and the changes in the boundary direction. At the second stage, a texture orientation-field analysis was developed to estimate the nipple location based on the convergence of the texture pattern of glandular tissue or ducts towards the nipple. The nipple location was finally determined from the detected nipple candidates by a rule-based confidence analysis. In this study, 377 and 367 randomly selected digitized mammograms were used for training and testing the nipple detection algorithm, respectively. Two experienced radiologists identified the nipple locations which were used as the gold standard. In the training data set, 301 nipples were positively identified and were referred to as visible nipples. Seventy six nipples could not be positively identified and were referred to as invisible nipples. The radiologists provided their estimation of the nipple locations in the latter group for comparison with the computer estimates. The computerized method could detect 89.37% (269/301) of the visible nipples and 69.74% (53/76) of the invisible nipples within 1 cm of the gold standard. In the test data set, 298 and 69 of the nipples were classified as visible and invisible, respectively. 92.28% (275/298) of the visible nipples and 53.62% (37/69) of the invisible nipples were identified within 1 cm of the gold standard. The results demonstrate that the nipple locations on digitized mammograms can be accurately detected if they are visible and can be reasonably estimated if they are invisible. Automated nipple detection will be an important step towards multiple image analysis for CAD.},
doi = {10.1118/1.1800713},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20634605}, journal = {Medical Physics},
issn = {0094-2405},
number = 10,
volume = 31,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2004},
month = {Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2004}
}