Institute of Computer-aided Product Development Systems
Implementation of an equation system to estimate the ratio of glandular tissue
to fat tissue in digital mammography
In the context of digital mammography, breast density mammographic density is the fraction of image occupied by radiographically dense tissue (glandular tissue).
It is known that there exists a connection between the density of mammograms and an increased breast cancer risk. A standard method to quantify breast density is not found yet, but there is the chance that digital mammography could offer possibilities for objective quantification.
Many authors have already developed methods to estimate the percentage of glandular tissue but from a 2D point of view. Considering density measurement as a two-dimensional problem considers only a part of a three-dimensional phenomenon.
In order to calculate the ratio glandular_thickness/fat_thickness in a mammographic image the following equations may apply for a single pixel in the image:
(1)
(2)
where
J 0 = intensity of the photon beam entering the breast; J = intensity of the photon beam after crossing the breast; J sct = intensity of the scattered radiation; µ 1 = linear attenuation coefficient of fatty tissue; µ 2 = linear attenuation coefficient of glandular tissue; P 1 = thickness of the fatty tissue diagonally crossed by the x-rays; P 2 = thickness of glandular tissue diagonally crossed by the x-rays; P = compressed breast thickness; α = angle with which the beam crosses the breast.
The objective of this Studienarbeit is to implement these equations and to find and implement the related calculations needed to find the values of their variables. In this Studienarbeit scattered radiation and the angle α may be not taken into consideration.
Main goals
Planning of the project
Understanding of the most important contents of the DICOM standard
Understanding the semantic meaning of the equations
Calculation of the relevant parameters from the input data
Understanding the different steps of image acquisition and image processing of the mammography equipment
Implementation the equations
Documentation of the project
Bearbeiter: Frau Uranmandakh AMGALAN, Herr Heiko HILKERT
(1) 
(2) 
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