Evaluation of an X-ray image of a breast produced during a mammography
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.
1. 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.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connectivity of the dense breast tissue is taken into account by applying a morphological opening method.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a structure element used within a scope of the morphological opening method is disk-shaped and radii of structure elements used for ablation and addition differ from one another.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
automatically producing the masking risk values based on the masking risk map.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
using the masking risk values to assign breast density categories to regions of the breast depicted in the x-ray image.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the breast density report comprises the assigned breast density categories for the regions of the breast depicted in the x-ray image.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
automatically producing a description of a position, a distribution, or both the position and the distribution of the dense breast tissue based on the masking risk map.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the breast density report comprises the assigned breast density categories for the regions of the breast depicted in the x-ray image and the description of the position, the distribution, or both the position and the distribution of the dense breast tissue.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
automatically producing a description of a position, a distribution, or both the position and the distribution of the dense breast tissue based on the masking risk map.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying the masking risk map on a screen together with the x-ray image.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein data from a glandularity map is used in the producing of the masking risk map.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the glandularity map is processed for a plurality of different threshold planes, and
wherein a binary image is produced for each threshold plane, each binary image being based on breast density values within the respective threshold plane.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the breast density report comprises descriptions of the dense breast tissue and volumetric breast densities determined for the region of the breast depicted in the x-ray image.
14. 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.
15. 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.