H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

University of South Florida

John J Heine

Thomas A Sellers

Erin E Fowler

Celine M Vachon

Laurence P Clarke

David Kent Cullers

Robert P Velthuizen

Stanley R Deans

Jerry Alan Thomas

Richard Paul Stauduhar

Breast density is a significant breast cancer risk factor measured from mammograms. Disclosed is a methodology for converting continuous measurements of breast density and calibrated mammograms into a four-state ordinal variable approximating the BI-RADS ratings. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to a calibration system for a specific full field digital mammography (FFDM) technology. The calibration adjusts for the x-ray acquisition technique differences across mammograms resulting in standardized images. The approach produced various calibrated and validated measures of breast density, one of which assesses variation in the mammogram referred to as Vc (i.e. variation measured from calibrated mammograms). The variation in raw mammograms [i.e. Vr] is a valid breast density risk factor in both FFDM in digitized film mammograms.

Breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) tissue composition

An automated percentage of breast density measure (PDa) that analyzes signal dependent noise (SDN) based on a wavelet expansion using full field digital mammography (FFDM). A matched case-control dataset is used with images acquired from a specific direct x-ray capture FFDM system. PDa is applied to the raw and clinical display representation images. Transforming (pixel mapping) of the raw image to another representation (raw-transformed) is performed using differential evolution optimization and investigated the influence of lowering the native spatial resolution of the image by a one-half. When controlling for body mass index, the quartile specific ORs for the associations of PDa with breast cancer varied with representation and resolution. PDa is a valid automated breast density measurement for a specific FFDM technology and compares well against PD (operator-assisted or the standard) when applied to either the raw-transformed or clinical display images from this FFDM technology.

Automated percentage of breast density measurements for full field digital mammography

Method of assessing breast density for breast cancer risk applications

Breast density is a significant breast cancer risk factor measured from mammograms. Evidence suggests that the spatial variation in mammograms may also be associated with risk. The variation in calibrated mammograms as a breast cancer risk factor was investigated and its relationship with other measures of breast density was explored using full field digital mammography (FFDM) as described herein. A matched case-control analysis was used to assess a spatial variation breast density measure in calibrated FFDM images, normalized for the image acquisition technique variation. The findings indicate the variation measure is a viable automated method for assessing breast density. Insights gained by this work may be used to develop a standard for measuring breast density.

Method for assessing breast density

The present invention is a method of determining breast cancer risk including the steps of establishing a risk probably value associated with a patient, the risk probability value calculated from an array of risk factors associated with breast cancer, applying a computer algorithm adapted to find abnormalities in the patient's mammogram, and increasing the tolerance level for false positive results in the computer algorithm responsive to a higher probability value associated with the patient and decreasing the tolerance level for false positive results in the computer algorithm responsive to a lower probability value associated with the patient.

Breast cancer risk analysis and computer-aided diagnosis

A system and method for analyzing a medical image to determine whether an abnormality is present, for example, in digital mammograms, includes the application of a wavelet expansion to a raw image to obtain subspace images of varying resolution. At least one subspace image is selected that has a resolution commensurate with a desired predetermined detection resolution range. A functional form of a probability distribution function is determined for each selected subspace image, and an optimal statistical normal image region test is determined for each selected subspace image. A threshold level for the probability distribution function is established from the optimal statistical normal image region test for each selected subspace image. A region size comprising at least one sector is defined, and an output image is created that includes a combination of all regions for each selected subspace image. Each region has a first value when the region intensity level is above the threshold and a second value when the region intensity level is below the threshold. This permits the localization of a potential abnormality within the image.

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New Port Richey, FL, United States of America

John J Heine