Radiomics software for breast imaging optimization and simulation studies

Abstract

Background and Objective: The development, control and optimisation of new x-ray breast imaging modalities could benefit from a quantitative assessment of the resulting image textures. The aim of this work was to develop a software tool for routine radiomics applications in breast imaging, which will also be available upon request. Methods: The tool (developed in MATLAB) allows image reading, selection of Regions of Interest (ROI), analysis and comparison. Requirements towards the tool also included convenient handling of common medical and simulated images, building and providing a library of commonly applied algorithms and a friendly graphical user interface. Initial set of features and analyses have been selected after a literature search. Being open, the tool can be extended, if necessary. Results: The tool allows semi-automatic extracting of ROIs, calculating and processing a total of 23 different metrics or features in 2D images and/or in 3D image volumes. Computations of the features were verified against computations with other software packages performed with test images. Two case studies illustrate the applicability of the tool -(i) features on a series of 2D 'left' and 'right' CC mammograms acquired on a Siemens Inspiration system were computed and compared, and (ii) evaluation of the suitability of newly proposed and developed breast phantoms for x-ray-based imaging based on reference values from clinical mammography images. Obtained results could steer the further development of the physical breast phantoms. Conclusions: A new image analysis toolbox was realized and can now be used in a multitude of radiomics applications, on both clinical and test images.