A robust graph-based segmentation method for breast tumors in ultrasound images

作者：Huang, Qing Hua^*; Lee, Su Ying; Liu, Long Zhong; Lu, Min Hua; Jin, Lian Wen; Li, An Hua

来源：Ultrasonics, 2012, 52(2): 266-275.

DOI：10.1016/j.ultras.2011.08.011

• Breast tumor
• Graph theory
• Image segmentation
• Ultrasound

Objectives: This paper introduces a new graph-based method for segmenting breast tumors in US images.
Background and motivation: Segmentation for breast tumors in ultrasound (US) images is crucial for computer-aided diagnosis system, but it has always been a difficult task due to the defects inherent in the US images, such as speckles and low contrast.
Methods: The proposed segmentation algorithm constructed a graph using improved neighborhood models. In addition, taking advantages of local statistics, a new pair-wise region comparison predicate that was insensitive to noises was proposed to determine the mergence of any two of adjacent subregions.
Results and conclusion: Experimental results have shown that the proposed method could improve the segmentation accuracy by 1.5-5.6% in comparison with three often used segmentation methods, and should be capable of segmenting breast tumors in US images.

• 出版日期2012-2
• 单位中山大学; 华南理工大学; 深圳大学