title: Computer-aided diagnosis system based on fuzzy logic for breast cancer categorization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fuzzy logic can help reduce the difficulties faced by computational systems to represent and simulate the reasoning and the style adopted by radiologists in the process of medical image analysis. The study described in this paper consists of a new method that applies fuzzy logic concepts to improve the representation of features related to image description in order to make it semantically more consistent. Specifically, we have developed a computer-aided diagnosis tool for automatic BI-RADS categorization of breast lesions. The user provides parameters such as contour, shape and density and the system gives a suggestion about the BI-RADS classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Initially, values of malignancy were defined for each image descriptor, according to the BI-RADS standard. When analyzing contour, for example, our method considers the matching of features and linguistic variables. Next, we created the fuzzy inference system. The generation of membership functions was carried out by the Fuzzy Omega algorithm, which is based on the statistical analysis of the dataset. This algorithm maps the distribution of different classes in a set.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Images were analyzed by a group of physicians and the resulting evaluations were submitted to the Fuzzy Omega algorithm. The results were compared, achieving an accuracy of 76.67% for nodules and 83.34% for calcifications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fit of definitions and linguistic rules to numerical models provided by our method can lead to a tighter connection between the specialist and the computer system, yielding more effective and reliable results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computing and Mathematics, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto 14040-901, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: gimiranda@usp.br.
authors.forename: Gisele Helena Barboni
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Department of Computing and Mathematics, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto 14040-901, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: jfelipe@ffclrp.usp.br.
authors.forename: Joaquim Cezar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Felipe
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019295:Computational Biology; D005260:Female; D017143:Fuzzy Logic; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Breast cancer; Computer-aided diagnosis; Decision support; Fuzzy logic; Healthcare informatics