A CAD system for the 3D location of lesions in mammograms

A CAD system for estimating the 3D (three-dimensional) positions of lesions found in two mammographic views is described. The system is an extension of our previous method [Comput. Vis. Image Understand. 83 (2001) 38] which finds corresponding 2D positions in different mammographic views. The method calculates curved epipolar lines by developing a simulation of breast deformation into stereo camera geometry. Using such curved epipolar lines, not only can we determine point correspondences, but can estimate the 3D location of a lesion. In this paper, we first explain the underlying principles and system organisation. The correctness of the 3D positions calculated by the system is examined using a set of breast lesions, which appear both in mammograms and in MRI data. The experimental results demonstrate the clinical promise of the CAD system.