Mammographic feature enhancement by computerized image processing

Mammographic detection of early breast cancer from X-ray film mammograms requires optimal radiological or image processing techniques. We present an image processing approach based on feature adaptive neighborhood processing with a tunable contrast-enhancement function to enhance mammographic features. This procedure brings out the features in the image with little or no enhancement of the noise. Results show that the proposed technique is intelligently tunable to the requirements of enhancement of specific mammographic features such as microcalcifications, soft-tissue characteristics, etc.