Mammography Image Processing Using Virtual Projections to Cut Dose
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing contrast enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) biopsy method requires multiple captures of high-energy and low-energy images, leading to increased exposure doses, particularly for low-energy images, necessitating a reduction in radiation exposure.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that utilizes tomosynthesis imaging with low-energy radiation, generating a composite two-dimensional image and difference images by calculating virtual projection positions and correcting magnification ratios, allowing for reduced exposure by combining multiple low-energy images with high-energy images captured at different angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sets of high-energy and low-energy images are captured while changing the radiation source angle, then the CEDM biopsy imaging completeness is improved, but the exposure dose is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual low-energy image by computationally synthesizing it from high-energy tomosynthesis images. Instead of physically capturing multiple low-energy images with additional radiation exposure, the system generates a synthetic copy that serves the same diagnostic purpose, thereby reducing the exposure dose while maintaining imaging completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate computational processing step that transforms high-energy tomosynthesis images into a synthesized low-energy image. This intermediary process acts as a mediator between the acquired high-energy images and the required low-energy image, eliminating the need for direct low-energy image capture and reducing overall exposure dose
2Measurement precision
If multiple low-energy images are captured, then the image quality for CEDM biopsy is improved, but the exposure dose is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy parameter by acquiring high-energy tomosynthesis images and then computationally transforming them to simulate low-energy image characteristics. This parameter transformation approach maintains the diagnostic quality required for CEDM biopsy while avoiding the high exposure dose associated with capturing multiple actual low-energy images
3Reliability
If tomosynthesis imaging is performed with low-energy radiation multiple times, then the diagnostic accuracy is improved, but the exposure dose becomes excessively large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent generates a synthetic low-energy image from high-energy tomosynthesis data, creating a virtual copy that provides the diagnostic accuracy needed for CEDM biopsy without requiring multiple physical low-energy image captures, thereby reducing radiation exposure to the patient
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces exposure dose during CEDM biopsy by completing tomosynthesis imaging with low-energy radiation and generating composite images, thereby minimizing the need for repeated high-energy image captures.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating a breast, in which the contrast medium has been injected, with radiation having different energies to capture a low-energy image and a high-energy image
Implementation Method 2
calculate, for each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images, a virtual projection position, which is a position at which the breast is virtually projected during the tomosynthesis imaging, from a position of a radiation source
Data Source
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AI summary
An image processing apparatus (16) includes a CPU. The CPU acquires a series of a plurality of projection images or a plurality of tomographic images obtained by performing tomosynthesis imaging by irradiating a breast with radiation having a first energy; acquires a plurality of normal two-dimensional images captured by irradiating the breast with radiation having a second energy, which is higher than the first energy, a plurality of times; calculates, for each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images, a virtual projection position, which is a position at which the breast is virtually projected during the tomosynthesis imaging, from a position of a radiation source in a case in which the normal two-dimensional image is captured; generates a composite two-dimensional image from the plurality of projection images or the plurality of tomographic images based on the virtual projection position calculated for each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images; and generates a difference image between each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images and each of the composite two-dimensional images generated for each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images.