title: Algorithmic 3D simulation of breast calcifications for digital mammography.
abstract: We present a framework for algorithmic three-dimensional simulation of breast calcifications. The simulated calcifications can be viewed from any angle at a higher spatial resolution than currently available for digital mammography, and they can be placed onto a simulated or real mammographic background to provide example cases for computers and radiologists. In order to simulate calcification clusters, we also show how to simulate duct networks and terminal ductal lobular units. We evaluated the model with a double-blind evaluation of 60 cases with four experienced radiologists by mixing 30 cases of simulated calcification clusters on a real or simulated mammographic background with 30 cases of real breast calcification clusters digitized at a spatial resolution of 15 microm from high-resolution radiographs of 5 mm slices of breast specimens. The results indicate that the majority of the 2D projections of the 3D simulated calcifications compare favorably with the radiographic images of real breast calcifications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of Turku, Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS), Lemmink aisenkatu 14 A FIN-20520, Turku, Finland. jnappi@uchicago.edu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Näppi
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nevalainen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toikkanen
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008327:Mammography; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D011873:Radiology Information Systems