A computer-aided detection system for clustered microcalcifications.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper is to describe a novel system for computer-aided detection of clusters of microcalcifications on digital mammograms.


METHODS
Mammograms are first segmented by means of a tree-structured Markov random field algorithm that extracts the elementary homogeneous regions of interest. An analysis of such regions is then performed by means of a two-stage, coarse-to-fine classification based on both heuristic rules and classifier combination. In this phase, we avoid taking a decision on the single microcalcifications and forward it to the successive phase of clustering realized through a sequential approach.


RESULTS
The system has been tested on a publicly available database of mammograms and compared with previous approaches. The obtained results show that the system is very effective, especially in terms of sensitivity.


CONCLUSIONS
The proposed approach exhibits some remarkable advantages both in segmentation and classification phases. The segmentation phase employs an image model that reduces the computational burden, preserving the small details in the image through an adaptive local estimation of all model parameters. The classification stage combines the results of the classifiers focused on the single microcalcification and the cluster as a whole. Such an approach makes a detection system particularly effective and robust with respect to the large variations exhibited by the clusters of microcalcifications.
Marrocco
Claudio
C
Dipartimento di Automazione, Elettromagnetismo, Ingegneria dell'Informazione e Matematica Industriale, Università degli Studi di Cassino, Via G. di Biasio 43, Cassino, FR, Italy. c.marrocco@unicas.it
Molinara
Mario
M
D'Elia
Ciro
C
Tortorella
Francesco
F
D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D057225:Data Mining; D019992:Databases as Topic; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008390:Markov Chains; D008490:Medical Informatics; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009426:Netherlands; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted