Determining mammographic image view and laterality

1. A method for displaying a captured digital mammography image, the method comprising using a computer to perform steps of:

obtaining digital data of the mammography image;

segmenting the mammography image to identify at least a first diagnostically relevant region comprising an image of the breast tissue and a second diagnostically relevant region;

computing a symmetry index for the first diagnostically relevant region;

assigning a view type for the mammography image, either cranio-caudal or medio-lateral oblique view, according to the symmetry index;

computing a right breast or left breast laterality feature according to a relative position of the second diagnostically relevant region; and

assigning right breast or left breast laterality to the mammography image according to the laterality feature.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein computing the symmetry index is accomplished by:

forming a vertical profile of the segmented first diagnostically relevant region by identifying a peak row of pixels, wherein the peak row has a peak value corresponding to a maximum image contour along the horizontal; and

summing pixel values for each row above and below the peak row to obtain the symmetry index indicative of symmetry of the segmented first diagnostically relevant region.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein computing the laterality feature is accomplished by:

dividing the mammography image into upper and lower portions of equal size;

removing the first diagnostically relevant region from the mammography image;

summing pixel values for each row of the upper and lower portions to determine which portion includes a marker region as the its second diagnostically relevant region; and

assigning right breast or left breast laterality is accomplished by inferring the right breast or left breast laterality according to the determined marker region.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein segmenting the mammography image includes sub-sampling the mammography image at a lower resolution.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the symmetry index yields information for generating a probability vector.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the laterality feature provides an indicator of incorrect image orientation.

7. A method for displaying a plurality of captured mammogram images from a patient, the method comprising using a computer to perform steps of:

obtaining digital data of the mammography images;

segmenting the image to identify at least a first diagnostically relevant region comprising an image of the breast tissue and a second diagnostically relevant region;

computing a symmetry index for the first diagnostically relevant region;

computing a right breast or left breast laterality feature according to a relative position of at least the second diagnostically relevant region within the image;

generating a probability vector according to the symmetry index and the laterality feature for the image; and

using data of the probability vector to assign a view type, either cranio-caudal or medio-lateral oblique view, and a right breast or left breast laterality combination to the image.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein computing a symmetry index is accomplished by:

forming a vertical profile from the first diagnostically relevant region by identifying a peak row of pixels, wherein the peak row has a peak value corresponding to a maximum image contour along the horizontal; and

summing pixel values for each row above and below the peak row to obtain the symmetry index indicative of symmetry of the diagnostically relevant region.