Digital Mammography: Computer-Aided Breast Cancer Diagnosis

The purpose of this study is to develop computer programs to assist radiologists in finding breast cancer on mammograms and to compare the computer's accuracy of detecting cancers on direct digital and film mammograms.

To develop a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for full field digital mammography (FFDM) using advanced computer vision techniques and to evaluate the effects of CAD on interpretation of digital mammograms (DMs). This system will assist radiologists with the four most important areas in mammographic interpretation: (1) detection of masses, (2) classification of masses, (3) detection of microcalcifications, (4) classification of microcalcifications. The proposed approach is distinctly different from previous approaches in that image information from two-view and bilateral mammograms will be fused with that from the single-view mammogram to improve lesion detection and characterization.

Digital mammography is a non-invasive imaging technique to obtain an x-ray image of the breast. Two-view digital mammogram of the breast with a lesion that has been recommended for biopsy during the subject's regular clinical care. The digital mammogram is then analyzed by a computer program.

Using non-invasive digital mammography with computer aided programs to screen, detect and characterize breast lesions/cancer.

Using computer aided programs to assist in detection and characterization of breast lesions in digital mammography.

Inclusion Criteria: Females who have been scheduled for mammographic exams. Females who have been recommended for work-up or biopsy due to a suspicious finding on their mammogram. Females who can give informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: No subject under 18 years of age