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Automated analysis of breast parenchymal patterns in whole breast ultrasound images: preliminary experience

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International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

A computerized classification scheme to recognize breast parenchymal patterns in whole breast ultrasound (US) images was developed. A preliminary evaluation of the system performance was performed.

Methods

Breast parenchymal patterns were classified into three categories: mottled pattern (MP), intermediate pattern (IP), and atrophic pattern (AP). Each classification was defined as proposed by an experienced physician. A total of 281 image features were extracted from a volume of interest which was automatically segmented. Canonical discriminant analysis with stepwise feature selection was employed for the classification of the parenchymal patterns.

Results

The classification scheme accuracy was computed to be 83.3% (10/12 cases) in MP cases, 91.7% (22/24 cases) in IP cases, 92.9% (13/14 cases) in AP cases, and 90.0% (45/50 cases) in all the cases.

Conclusions

The feasibility of an automated ultrasonography classifier for parenchymal patterns was demonstrated with promising results in whole breast US images.

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Correspondence to Yuji Ikedo.

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Ikedo, Y., Morita, T., Fukuoka, D. et al. Automated analysis of breast parenchymal patterns in whole breast ultrasound images: preliminary experience. Int J CARS 4, 299–306 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-009-0295-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-009-0295-0

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