Evaluation of an x-ray image of a breast produced during a mammography
AssigneeSiemens Healthcare GmbH
InventorAndreas Fieselmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The embodiments relate to a method, an apparatus, and a computer program for evaluating an x-ray image of a breast produced during a mammography. In order to simplify the evaluation of such an x-ray image in respect of the breast density, a method is proposed to automatically determine the masking risk caused by the mammographically dense tissue and to use this for categorizing, describing, and/or representing the breast density.
Claims15
A method for evaluating an x-ray image of a breast produced during mammography, the method comprising:
- automatically producing, by a processor, a masking risk map for a region of the breast depicted in the x-ray image, wherein the producing takes into account a connectivity of dense breast tissue, wherein the masking risk map comprises masking risk values that quantify a masking risk, and wherein the masking risk map further comprises one or more categorizing levels of masking risk;
- automatically determining, by the processor, an overall masking risk of the breast caused by the dense breast tissue;
- and
- generating a breast density report using the overall masking risk.
An apparatus for evaluating an x-ray image of a breast produced during mammography, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor configured to:
- produce a masking risk map for a region of the breast depicted in the x-ray image, wherein the producing takes into account a connectivity of dense breast tissue, wherein the masking risk map comprises masking risk values that quantify a masking risk, and wherein the masking risk map further comprises one or more categorizing levels of masking risk;
- determine an overall masking risk of the breast caused by the dense breast tissue;
- and
- generate a breast density report using the overall masking risk.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stored on a computer for evaluating an x-ray image of a breast produced during mammography, the computer-readable storage medium comprising computer program instructions configured to, when executed on the computer, cause the computer to at least perform:
- produce a masking risk map for a region of the breast depicted in the x-ray image, wherein the producing takes into account a connectivity of dense breast tissue, wherein the masking risk map comprises masking risk values that quantify a masking risk, and wherein the masking risk map further comprises one or more categorizing levels of masking risk;
- determine an overall masking risk of the breast caused by the dense breast tissue;
- and
- generate a breast density report using the overall masking risk.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.