Algorithms for Detection and Classification of Abnormality in Mammograms: An Overview

Introduction

Breast Cancer is women’s foremost health issue in developed as well as developing countries. According to American Cancer Society statistics, 252,710 invasive breast cancer cases in women are estimated to be diagnosed in 2017 and 40,610 breast cancer deaths of women are estimated in 2017. There are 89% of breast cancer deaths in women with ages 50 years or above (American Cancer Society, 2017). Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates vary considerably by race or ethnicity. There is requirement of taking effective actions in order to control this deadly disease in future. Cancer is extremely dangerous and potentially challenging issue.

It is possible to reduce death rate due to breast cancer, by using mammographic screening to detect it at early stage. Mammography is a noninvasive test where a low dose X-ray image of breast is captured in the form of digital or digitized mammogram. Mammography is a promising technique which aids medical doctors to examine breast for the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. It captures two projections of each breast, a top-to-bottom view named Cranio-Caudal (CC) view and a side view taken at an angle named Mediolateral Oblique (MLO) view. If detected, proper treatment can be given at the initial stages and a patient’s life can be saved.

Some of the significant signs of breast cancer such as masses, clusters of micro-calcifications, spiculated masses and architectural distortions are checked by radiologists and breast surgeons during visual examination of mammogram. Examples of mammograms for each type of abnormality are shown in Figure 1. The breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS), is a standard for reporting and classification of mammogram studies. BI-RADS is defined by the American College of Radiology, (American College of Radiology [ACR], 1998).

As the number of mammograms to be analyzed by the radiologists and breast surgeons is enormous, there is possibility that they may miss some subtle abnormalities. Computer based system which is designed using the expert knowledge of radiologists and oncologists to detect abnormalities can act as second opinion and assists the radiologists to increase performance of diagnosis.

Figure 1.

Examples of Mammograms with (a) circumscribed mass (b) micro-calcifications (c) architectural distortion (d) speculated lesions Source: MIAS Database

The main goal of the proposed chapter is to introduce dominant features of various signs of abnormalities in breast and to discuss existing algorithms for detection and classification of abnormalities in mammograms. The chapter also presents recent progress in the field of development of algorithms for computer assisted detection of breast cancer. This knowledge will help to develop a system which is useful for the early detection and classification of abnormalities in breast using mammogram image analysis. Some of the techniques implemented by authors to detect various types of abnormalities in mammograms are explained in detail.

Background

This section describes existing computer based algorithms for the detection of cancerous tissues in breast by processing and analyzing digital mammograms. The literature reviewed is divided into five groups namely, Pre-processing techniques, Techniques for detection and classification of masses, Techniques for detection and classification of micro-calcifications, Techniques for detection of architectural distortion - spicules and Techniques for overall abnormality detection.