Features of a Free Mammography Database to Manage a Random Breast Phantom Images Dataset Intended for Testing Cad Schemes

Abstract

A previous structured images database intended to be used as a tool to researchers testing developed image processing techniques in mammography is being upgraded with new tools and images sets. Its original management system allows to choose and download high quality mammographic images, as from old digitized films as well as from direct digital files acquired more recently. Its search engine is of freely access online, it has incorporated new features, and new types of images intended to aid performance tests of processing schemes. In this sense, we discuss here new tools implemented in the management system to be able to handle images of a new breast phantom with random distributions, exposed to different DR mammography equipment. We described some of the new database management system features to archive, search and download phantom images, together with an evaluation which compares these kind of images with those from actual breasts in order to validate this new set in terms of visual analysis. Previous results not only have indicated a reasonable level of similarity between phantom (ie., simulated) images and actual ones, but the utility of implement this dataset as a section of our mammography database in aiding performance tests of CADx schemes techniques addressed to detect and/or classify signals of interest in digital mammography.

Comparative tests between actual and simulated digital mammography images for new computer schemes evaluation database

“…It is molded by mixing some of 10 layers composed of paraffin gel with submerged PVC film in a non-uniform distribution and another 4 composed only of paraffin gel 12 . As previously described 11,12 , the main layers distribution simulates more or less dense regions, depending on the material concentration, and nodules were simulated using two printed three-dimensional models (circumscribed and spiculated lesions). All simulated structures can be physically inserted between the phantom layers in preparation for the further exposure at the mammography unit.…”

“…Alternatively, image sets based on exposures of particular breast phantoms specially designed for simulating actual breasts in several aspectsas well as virtual phantoms 9,10may constitute a useful resource to replace datasets of mammographic images from actual breasts 11 . Many reasons can be listed: variety of cases and imaging equipment, variety of simulated lesions and, above all, availability of all information about each image (such as the existence and location of these simulators, density and thickness characteristics, exposure doses).…”