Tomosynthesis Image Processing Apparatus for Lesion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In tomosynthesis imaging for breast cancer detection, the varying image quality across different projection images due to the movement of the radiation source leads to high-quality and low-quality areas in tomographic and composite two-dimensional images, making it difficult to detect lesions and increasing the risk of erroneous diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that derives a common area across multiple projection images and emphasizes effective image areas, displaying only the high-quality regions of tomographic or composite two-dimensional images to reduce the risk of missing lesions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the radiation source is moved to image the breast at multiple positions, then the image quality in the common area is improved, but the area covered by the edge image of the compression plate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the projection image into multiple regions: a first region containing the breast image, a second region containing the edge image of the compression plate, and a third region serving as a transition area. By segmenting the image and applying different processing to each region, the patent resolves the contradiction by excluding the harmful edge image area from reconstruction while maintaining the useful breast image area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the edge image of the compression plate from the projection image before reconstruction. By taking out the harmful component (edge image) that causes artifacts, the patent improves image quality in the reconstructed tomographic images without being constrained by the presence of the compression plate edge in the original projection images.
2Measurement precision
If the radiation source is moved to image the breast at multiple positions, then the number of projection images increases improving image quality, but the proportion of low-quality areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality standards and processing to different regions of the image. The first region (breast image area) is processed with high quality reconstruction, while the second region (edge image area) is excluded or processed differently. This local quality approach ensures that the final tomographic image has high quality in the diagnostically important areas without being degraded by low-quality edge image regions.
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
This approach enhances the detection of lesions by focusing on high-quality image areas, thereby reducing the likelihood of erroneous diagnoses in tomosynthesis imaging and composite two-dimensional images.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation source is moved relative to a detection unit to irradiate a subject with radiation at the plurality of radiation source positions
Implementation Method 2
a radiation source is moved relative to a detection unit to irradiate a subject with radiation
Implementation Method 3
the projection images are reconstructed using, for example, a back projection method, such as a simple back projection method or a filtered back projection method, to generate a tomographic image
Data Source
AI summary
A common area derivation unit derives a common area common to at least a part of a plurality of projection images corresponding to a plurality of radiation source positions which are generated by causing an imaging apparatus to perform tomosynthesis imaging in which a radiation source is moved relative to a detection unit to irradiate a subject with radiation at the plurality of radiation source positions according to movement of the radiation source. A display control unit emphasizes effective image areas, corresponding to the common area, of at least a part of a plurality of tomographic images representing a plurality of tomographic planes of the subject which are generated by reconstructing the plurality of projection images, or a composite two-dimensional image generated from the plurality of tomographic images, and displays at least the part of the tomographic images or the composite two-dimensional image on a display.