You have requested a machine translation of selected content from our databases. This functionality is provided solely for your convenience and is in no way intended to replace human translation. Neither SPIE nor the owners and publishers of the content make, and they explicitly disclaim, any express or implied representations or warranties of any kind, including, without limitation, representations and warranties as to the functionality of the translation feature or the accuracy or completeness of the translations.
Translations are not retained in our system. Your use of this feature and the translations is subject to all use restrictions contained in the Terms and Conditions of Use of the SPIE website.
Chapter 28: The Current Status and Likely Future of Breast Imaging CAD
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print format on
SPIE.org.
Abstract
In this chapter, the present status and future possibilities for computer-aided-detection (CAD) in breast imaging is considered. Xeromammography and later, conventional x-ray mammography, were among the earliest medical imaging modalities to benefit from the use of computers to assist radiologists in detecting lesions, especially cancers.
At present, mammography is the preferred method to screen asymptomatic women for breast cancer. Breast cancer itself is a heterogeneous disease with no cure; the earlier the cancer is detected, the better the prognosis. The principal thrust of CAD research in recent years has therefore been to detect early signs of the disease, such as microcalcifications, small masses, and subtle lesions, especially those most likely to be missed by radiologists, so that any cancer present may be detected at the earliest possible stage of the disease.
In this chapter, CAD in breast imaging is reviewed, and the possible lines of future research and development speculated on. The major unresolved problems are identified and, in some cases, promising trends and possible solutions are outlined. Mammography has certain structural deficiencies that have propelled research into alternative imaging modalities for breast cancer detection. Some of these emerging imaging modalities that could either be adjuncts to mammography or supplant it in the future are reviewed. The possible roles for CAD for these alternative modalities are also examined. Certain generic problems of CAD, such as accurate segmentation, registration, lesion detection, and assessment of algorithm performance are then considered.
The technology of CAD, in the context of mammography, generally stands for computer-aided detection of lesions and suspicious regions, meriting careful scrutiny by a radiologist. If a patient's history and the radiologist's findings are taken into account, together with the computer-aided detection data that provides diagnostic output, a computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) system exists. Sometimes, a computer-aided diagnosis system is also confusingly referred to by the acronym CAD. In an attempt to overcome such confusion, a computer-aided detection system is sometimes referred to as a CADe system. In this chapter, computer-aided detection is referred to as CAD, and computer-aided diagnosis as CADx.
Online access to SPIE eBooks is limited to subscribing institutions.