title: Contrast enhancement in dense breast images to aid clustered microcalcifications detection.
abstract: This paper presents a method to provide contrast enhancement in dense breast digitized images, which are difficult cases in testing of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) schemes. Three techniques were developed, and data from each method were combined to provide a better result in relation to detection of clustered microcalcifications. Results obtained during the tests indicated that, by combining all the developed techniques, it is possible to improve the performance of a processing scheme designed to detect microcalcification clusters. It also allows operators to distinguish some of these structures in low-contrast images, which were not detected via conventional processing before the contrast enhancement. This investigation shows the possibility of improving CAD schemes for better detection of microcalcifications in dense breast images.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência da Computação, Centro Universitário Eurípides de Marília, Av. Hygino Muzzi Filho, 529-Campus Universitário, 17525-901, Marília, SP, Brazil. fatima@fundanet.br
authors.forename: Fátima L S
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Homero
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schiabel
authors.forename: Claudio E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Goes
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media