title: Evaluation of microcalcifications segmentation techniques for dense breast digitized images.
abstract: Some processing techniques cited in the literature used for microcalcifications detection in digitized mammograms are evaluated here with regard to dense breast images. Three techniques were investigated: Nappi et al.'s, Nishikawa et al.'s and Wallet et al.'s. The methods were tested with low-contrast phantom images, simulating dense breast images. The ability of each technique to detect microcalcifications in dense breast images was evaluated. The following detection rates were obtained: Nappi et al's technique, 78.3%; Wallet et al.'s, 86.6%; and Nishikawa et al.'s, 94.4%. Dense breast images affect the performance of CAD schemes, as confirmed by our results. Therefore, data from those segmentation techniques applied to dense breast images could be improved by developing a hybrid method using the best characteristics of each technique.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Engenharia Elétrica, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos-USP, Brazil. cegoes@sel.eesc.sc.usp.br
authors.forename: Claudio Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Góes
authors.forename: Homero
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schiabel
authors.forename: Fátima L S
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Nunes
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008327:Mammography; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement