System and method for assigning mammographic view and laterality to individual images in groups of digitized mammograms

1. A method for automatically assigning a type of a mammographic view for a digital mammography image, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying two or more candidate view types;

determining at least one feature for the digital image, the at least one feature being distinguishable between the two of more candidate view types;

correlating the determined feature of the digital image with one of the two or more candidate view types by determining, for the digital mammography image, a classification coefficient corresponding to each of the two or more candidate view types; and

assigning the type of a mammographic view to the digital mammography image in accordance with the correlation,

wherein the step of determining the classification coefficient comprises the steps of:

assigning the determined feature to a plurality of predetermined nodes of a neural network;

calculating for the digital mammography image, using the neural network, the classification coefficient corresponding to each of the two or more candidate view types; and

employing the calculated classification coefficients to assign the type of a mammographic view to the digital mammography image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the classification coefficient is accomplished by a vectorial multiplication of an average of the determined feature of preselected images of a known type with the determined feature of the digital mammography image to generate a classification coefficient corresponding for each of the two or more candidate view types.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of optimization.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of optimization comprises the steps of:

a) comparing the classification coefficients corresponding to each of the two of more candidate views types for a first digital image to select the type with the highest classification coefficient;

b) assigning said selected type to said first image; and

c) repeating steps a) and b) for each image with the proviso that a given type, once assigned, is removed from said possible types.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of optimization comprises the steps of:

a) maximizing a sum of said classification coefficients of each type of all images; and

b) assigning to each image the type associated with that image in the maximized sum.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of optimization is accomplished by linear programing.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said features are calculated from a plurality of predetermined regions in said digitized image.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the feature is brightness, contrast, or a combination of brightness and contrast.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said features are calculated from at least about 20 grid elements in said digitized image.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the feature is brightness, contrast, or a combination of brightness and contrast.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the feature is normalized relative to the plurality of predetermined regions.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital mammography image is provided by digitizing X-ray film in any orientation.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital mammography image is provided by digitizing X-ray film in a pre-determined orientation.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined orientation is selected from an orientation of emulsion side up and emulsion side down.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined orientation is further selected from an orientation of portrait and landscape.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the classification coefficient is accomplished by calculating a RMS of a vector difference between an average of the determined feature of preselected images of a known type with the determined feature of the digital mammography image to generate a classification coefficient corresponding for each of the two or more candidate view types.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising a step of optimization, wherein the step of optimization comprises the steps of:

a) minimizing a sum of said classification coefficients of each type of all images; and

b) assigning to each image the type associated with that image in the minimized sum.