A novel image toggle tool for comparison of serial mammograms: automatic density normalization and alignment-development of the tool and initial experience

作者：Honda Satoshi^*; Tsunoda Hiroko; Fukuda Wataru; Saida Yukihisa

来源：Japanese Journal of Radiology, 2014, 32(12): 725-731.

DOI：10.1007/s11604-014-0362-5

• Digital mammography
• Soft copy reading
• Serial comparison
• Image processing

The purpose is to develop a new image toggle tool with automatic density normalization (ADN) and automatic alignment (AA) for comparing serial digital mammograms (DMGs). %26lt;br%26gt;We developed an ADN and AA process to compare the images of serial DMGs. In image density normalization, a linear interpolation was applied by taking two points of high- and low-brightness areas. The alignment was calculated by determining the point of the greatest correlation while shifting the alignment between the current and prior images. These processes were performed on a PC with a 3.20-GHz Xeon processor and 8 GB of main memory. We selected 12 suspected breast cancer patients who had undergone screening DMGs in the past. Automatic processing was retrospectively performed on these images. Two radiologists subjectively evaluated them. %26lt;br%26gt;The process of the developed algorithm took approximately 1 s per image. In our preliminary experience, two images could not be aligned approximately. When they were aligned, image toggling allowed detection of differences between examinations easily. %26lt;br%26gt;We developed a new tool to facilitate comparative reading of DMGs on a mammography viewing system. Using this tool for toggling comparisons might improve the interpretation efficiency of serial DMGs.

• 出版日期2014-12