3D Breast Image Alignment for Lesion Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical image processing apparatuses fail to effectively display and align radiation images of symmetrical regions, such as the right and left breasts, which hampers lesion detection sensitivity and specificity, especially in dense breast tissue where mammography techniques like tomosynthesis and CBCT are used.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus comprising a right region image obtaining unit, a left region image obtaining unit, an alignment unit, and a display control unit that aligns and symmetrically displays three-dimensional radiation images of the right and left regions based on feature positions, enabling accurate alignment and comparison of anatomical features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional medical image processing apparatuses display radiation images of right and left regions separately, then the display process is simple, but the lesion detection sensitivity and specificity deteriorate due to inability to perform accurate comparison between symmetrical regions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the display process into distinct functional units: a right region image obtaining unit for acquiring right breast images, a left region image obtaining unit for acquiring left breast images, an alignment unit for performing alignment based on feature positions, and a display control unit for symmetric arrangement. This segmentation enables precise comparison while maintaining clear functional boundaries, thereby improving lesion detection without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from separate 2D display to a combined 3D spatial arrangement where right and left breast images are displayed in substantially symmetrical positions. This dimensional change allows radiologists to intuitively compare symmetrical regions by viewing them in their natural anatomical spatial relationship, significantly improving detection sensitivity and specificity
2Measurement precision
If three-dimensional radiation images of right and left regions are aligned based on feature positions, then the alignment precision is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment unit performs preliminary alignment based on feature positions (such as nipple positions, chest wall boundaries, or anatomical landmarks) before final display. By pre-identifying and aligning key feature points, the system establishes an accurate spatial relationship between right and left breast images, reducing the need for time-consuming iterative adjustments during diagnosis
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically identifies feature positions and performs alignment without requiring manual intervention from radiologists. The alignment unit autonomously detects anatomical features, calculates transformation parameters, and adjusts image positions, thereby achieving high alignment precision while minimizing processing time and radiologist workload
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus obtains a three-dimensional radiation image of a right region of substantially symmetrical regions, obtains a three-dimensional radiation image of a left region of the substantially symmetrical regions, performs alignment between the three-dimensional radiation image of the right region and the three-dimensional radiation image of the left region based on a feature position of the regions, and substantially symmetrically arranges and displays the three-dimensional radiation image of the right region and the three-dimensional radiation image of the left region which have been aligned.