Computer assistance for MR based diagnosis of breast cancer: present and future challenges.
MR based methods have gained an important role for the clinical detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the breast has become a robust and successful method, especially for diagnosis of high-risk cases due to its higher sensitivity compared to X-ray mammography. The application of MR based imaging methods depends on various automated image processing routines. The combination of techniques for preprocessing, quantification and visualization of datasets is necessary to achieve fast and solid assessment of valuable parameters for diagnosis. In this paper, different aspects such as registration methods for the reduction of motion artifacts, segmentation issues, as well as morphologic and dynamic lesion analysis will be reviewed with a focus on breast MRI, MR spectroscopy and MR guided biopsies of the breast, their implications and technical challenges from a computer assistance point of view.
Behrens
Sarah
S
MeVis Research, Center for Medical Image Computing, Universitaetsallee 29, 28359 Bremen, Germany. behrens@mevis.de
Laue
Hendrik
H
Althaus
Matthias
M
Boehler
Tobias
T
Kuemmerlen
Bernd
B
Hahn
Horst K
HK
Peitgen
Heinz-Otto
HO
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*