title: Extended query refinement for medical image retrieval.
abstract: The impact of image pattern recognition on accessing large databases of medical images has recently been explored, and content-based image retrieval (CBIR) in medical applications (IRMA) is researched. At the present, however, the impact of image retrieval on diagnosis is limited, and practical applications are scarce. One reason is the lack of suitable mechanisms for query refinement, in particular, the ability to (1) restore previous session states, (2) combine individual queries by Boolean operators, and (3) provide continuous-valued query refinement. This paper presents a powerful user interface for CBIR that provides all three mechanisms for extended query refinement. The various mechanisms of man-machine interaction during a retrieval session are grouped into four classes: (1) output modules, (2) parameter modules, (3) transaction modules, and (4) process modules, all of which are controlled by a detailed query logging. The query logging is linked to a relational database. Nested loops for interaction provide a maximum of flexibility within a minimum of complexity, as the entire data flow is still controlled within a single Web page. Our approach is implemented to support various modalities, orientations, and body regions using global features that model gray scale, texture, structure, and global shape characteristics. The resulting extended query refinement has a significant impact for medical CBIR applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, Aachen University of Technology (RWTH), Pauwelsstr. 30, 52057, Aachen, Germany. deserno@ieee.org
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Deserno
authors.forename: Mark O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Güld
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Plodowski
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spitzer
authors.forename: Berthold B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Wein
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ney
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seidl
mesh_terms: D003196:Computer Graphics; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012985:Software Design; D014584:User-Computer Interface