FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to breast imaging using tomosynthesis, and more specifically to systems and methods for obtaining, processing, synthesizing, storing and displaying a tomosynthesis data set or a subset thereof. In particular, the present disclosure relates to generating and displaying 2D image slabs by importing relevant data from a subset of reconstructed tomosynthesis image slices of a data set into the synthesized images.

BACKGROUND

Mammography has long been used to screen for breast cancer and other abnormalities. Traditionally, mammograms have been formed on x-ray film. More recently, flat panel digital imagers have been introduced that acquire a mammogram in digital form, and thereby facilitate analysis and storage of the acquired image data, and to also provide other benefits. Further, substantial attention and technological development have been dedicated to obtaining three-dimensional images of the breast using methods such as breast tomosynthesis. In contrast to the 2D images generated by legacy mammography systems, breast tomosynthesis systems construct a 3D image volume from a series of 2D projection images, each projection image obtained at a different angular displacement of an x-ray source relative to the image detector as the x-ray source is scanned over the detector. The constructed 3D image volume is typically presented as a plurality of slices of image data, the slices being mathematically reconstructed on planes typically parallel to the imaging detector. The reconstructed tomosynthesis slices reduce or eliminate the problems caused by tissue overlap and structure noise present in single slice, two-dimensional mammography imaging, by permitting a user (e.g., a radiologist or other medical professional) to scroll through the image slices to view only the structures in that slice.

Tomosynthesis systems have recently been developed for breast cancer screening and diagnosis. In particular, Hologic, Inc. (www.hologic.com) has developed a fused, multimode mammography/tomosynthesis system that acquires one or both types of mammogram and tomosynthesis images, either while the breast remains immobilized or in different compressions of the breast. Other companies have proposed the introduction of systems which are dedicated to tomosynthesis imaging; i.e., which do not include the ability to also acquire a mammogram in the same compression.

Examples of systems and methods that leverage existing medical expertise in order to facilitate, optionally, the transition to tomosynthesis technology are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,760,924, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 7,760,924 describes a method of generating a synthesized 2D image, which may be displayed along with tomosynthesis projection or reconstructed images, in order to assist in screening and diagnosis.

While a 2D image synthesized from the entire tomosynthesis data set provides a useful overview of the image data that is similar to a traditional mammography image, a single 2D image may contain too much data to facilitate optimal screening and diagnosis. Accordingly, there exists a need for tomosynthesis systems and methods for more effectively processing, synthesizing and displaying tomosynthesis image data.

SUMMARY

In accordance with various embodiments, a system for processing breast tissue images includes an image processing computer, and a user interface operatively coupled to the image processing computer, wherein the image processing computer is configured to obtain image data of breast tissue, processing the image data to generate a set of reconstructed image slices, the reconstructed image slices collectively depicting the breast tissue, process respective subsets of the reconstructed image slices to generate a set of image slabs, each image slab comprising a synthesized 2D image of a portion of the breast tissue obtained from a respective subset of the set of reconstructed image slices. The system may further comprise at least one image display monitor, wherein the image processing computer is further configured to cause to be displayed on a same or different display monitor of the one or more display monitors one or more image slabs of the generated set of image slabs. In various embodiments, the image processing computer is further configured to generate a storage file comprising the generated set of image slabs.

In one embodiment, the image processing computer is configured to generate each image slab of the set from a predetermined number of successive reconstructed image slices, wherein adjacent image slabs of the set include a predetermined overlap number of successive reconstructed image slices. In another embodiment, the image processing computer is configured to generate each image slab of the set from a user inputted number of successive reconstructed image slices, wherein adjacent image slabs of the set include a user inputted overlap number of successive reconstructed image slices. In one embodiment, respective slabs are generated from six successive image slabs, and wherein adjacent image slabs of the set include an overlap of three successive reconstructed image slices.

In various embodiments, the image slabs are generated using an enhancement mechanism that is selected or modified based on a number of reconstructed image slices from which the respective image slab is generated. By way of non-limiting example, the enhancement mechanism may be selected or modified based on a value corresponding to the number of reconstructed image slices from which the respective image slab is generated. By way of another non-limiting example, the enhancement mechanism may comprise highlighting one or more objects or regions in one or more image slabs of the set. In various embodiments, the enhancement mechanism takes into account one or more of: (i) a binary map of the respective highlighted objects or regions; (ii) a map of each image slice that includes a probability distribution for an identified pattern in the respective highlighted objects or regions; and (iii) importing an identified object or region from an image slice of the respective subset of reconstructed images slices into the image slab, wherein the object or region is imported into the image slab at X, Y coordinate locations corresponding to X, Y coordinate locations of the object or region in the respective reconstructed image slice.

In another embodiment of the disclosed inventions, a method for processing breast tissue image data includes obtaining image data of breast tissue, processing the image data to generate a set of reconstructed image slices, the reconstructed image slices collectively depicting the breast tissue, and processing respective subsets of the reconstructed image slices to generate a set of image slabs, each image slab of the set including a synthesized 2D image of a portion of the breast tissue obtained from a respective subset of the set of reconstructed image slices. In some embodiments, the slabs are generated from a predetermined number of successive image slices, and successive image slabs are generated from a predetermined overlap of image slices. In other embodiments, the slabs are generated from a user inputted number of successive image slices, and successive image slabs may be generated from a user inputted overlap of image slices. In one embodiment, respective slabs are generated from six successive image slabs, and wherein adjacent image slabs of the set include an overlap of three successive reconstructed image slices.

In various embodiments, the image slabs are generated using an enhancement mechanism (i.e., an image processing/synthesis function) that is selected or modified based on a number of reconstructed image slices from which the respective image slab is generated. The enhancement mechanism may be selected or modified based on a previously determined value corresponding to the number of reconstructed image slices from which the respective image slab is generated. The enhancement mechanism may be selected or modified based on a value determined based upon the number of reconstructed image slices from which the respective image slab is generated. The enhancement mechanism may include highlighting object(s) and/or regions in the respective image slabs. The enhancement mechanism may take into account a binary map of the object or region. The enhancement mechanism may take into account a map of each reconstructed image slice that includes a probability distribution for an identified pattern in the object or region. The enhancement mechanism may include importing an identified object or region from a reconstructed image slice of the respective subset into the image slab. By way of non-limiting example, the object(s) or region(s) may be imported into the image slab at X, Y coordinate locations corresponding to X, Y coordinate locations of the respective object(s) or region(s) in the respective reconstructed image slice(s).

In yet another embodiment, a method for processing breast tissue image data includes (i) obtaining image data of breast tissue, (ii) processing the image data to generate a set of reconstructed image slices collectively depicting the breast tissue, (iii) displaying a plurality of reconstructed image slices to a user, (iv) receiving user input identifying an image slice of the set, and (v) processing a subset of the image slices to generate an image slab comprising a synthesized 2D image of a portion of the breast tissue obtained from the subset of reconstructed image slices including the user-identified image slice. By way of non-limiting example, the slab may be generated from a user inputted number of successive image slices. The method may also include processing respective subsets of the reconstructed image slices to generate a user-inputted number of image slabs, each image slab including a synthesized 2D image of a portion of the breast tissue obtained from the respective subset of reconstructed image slices, and wherein successive image slabs of the plurality are generated from a user inputted overlap of reconstructed image slices.

These and other aspects and embodiments of the disclosed inventions are described in more detail below, in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

