title: Image fusion of Ultrasound Computer Tomography volumes with X-ray mammograms using a biomechanical model based 2D/3D registration.
abstract: Ultrasound Computer Tomography (USCT) is a promising breast imaging modality under development. Comparison to a standard method like mammography is essential for further development. Due to significant differences in image dimensionality and compression state of the breast, correlating USCT images and X-ray mammograms is challenging. In this paper we present a 2D/3D registration method to improve the spatial correspondence and allow direct comparison of the images. It is based on biomechanical modeling of the breast and simulation of the mammographic compression. We investigate the effect of including patient-specific material parameters estimated automatically from USCT images. The method was systematically evaluated using numerical phantoms and in-vivo data. The average registration accuracy using the automated registration was 11.9mm. Based on the registered images a method for analysis of the diagnostic value of the USCT images was developed and initially applied to analyze sound speed and attenuation images based on X-ray mammograms as ground truth. Combining sound speed and attenuation allows differentiating lesions from surrounding tissue. Overlaying this information on mammograms, combines quantitative and morphological information for multimodal diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Data Processing and Electronics, Postbox 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: torsten.hopp@kit.edu.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hopp
authors.affiliation: Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Department of Oncology, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Duric
authors.affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Data Processing and Electronics, Postbox 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Ruiter
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*; D014962:X-Ray Film
keywords: Breast imaging; Image fusion; Image registration; Multimodal diagnosis; Ultrasound Computer Tomography; X-Ray mammography