Location- and lesion-dependent estimation of mammographic background tissue complexity

Abstract

Abstract. We specify a notion of perceived background tissue complexity (BTC) that varies with lesion shape, lesion size, and lesion location in the image. We propose four unsupervised BTC estimators based on: perceived pre and postlesion similarity of images, lesion border analysis (LBA; conspicuous lesion should be brighter than its surround), tissue anomaly detection, and local energy. The latter two are existing methods adapted for location-and lesion-dependent BTC estimation. For evaluation, we ask human observers to measure BTC (threshold visibility amplitude of a given lesion inserted) at specified locations in a mammogram. As expected, both human measured and computationally estimated BTC vary with lesion shape, size, and location. BTCs measured by different human observers are correlated (ρ ¼ 0.67). BTC estimators are correlated to each other (0.84 < ρ < 0.95) and less so to human observers (ρ ≤ 0.81). With change in lesion shape or size, LBA estimated BTC changes in the same direction as human measured BTC. Proposed estimators can be generalized to other modalities (e.g., breast tomosynthesis) and used as-is or customized to a specific human observer, to construct BTC-aware model observers with applications, such as optimization of contrast-enhanced medical imaging systems and creation of a diversified image dataset with characteristics of a desired population.

Virtual clinical trials in medical imaging: a review

“…One of the earliest applications of VCTs was in the area of breast imaging for investigations of image quality, dosimetry, optimization, and technology evaluation. 30,213,[278][279][280][281][282][283][284][285][286][287][288][289] Recent VCTs have attempted to predict the ranking and the magnitude of improvement of breast imaging technologies as seen by human observers. 26,278,[290][291][292] In one example, VCTs were used in the Optimam project to evaluate the smallest detectable diameter of various lesions, showing that digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is superior to digital mammography (DM) for masses, 290 while the converse is true for calcifications.…”

“…One of the earliest applications of VCTs was in the area of breast imaging for investigations of image quality, dosimetry, optimization, and technology evaluation. 30 , 213 , 278 – 289 Recent VCTs have attempted to predict the ranking and the magnitude of improvement of breast imaging technologies as seen by human observers. 26 , 278 , 290 – 292 …”

“…Many additional studies have been conducted using breast imaging VCT pipelines and pipeline components, including the assessment of image processing, image registration, imaging device design, and optimization. 30 , 213 , 278 – 289 …”