Optimal filter for detection of stellate lesions and circumscribed masses in mammograms
Thor Ole Gulsrud, Sissel Kjode · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1996
This paper presents a new method for segmentation of digital mammograms based on the use of an optimal filter for feature extraction. The filter is optimized with respect to the Fisher criterion, i.e. the mean feature values for the textures to be discriminated are maximally separated, while the feature variances are low. Our optimal filter is used in the detection of two types of tumors; circumscribed masses and stellate lesions. We take advantage of the similarity between stellate lesions and circumscribed masses and use the same filter in the segmentation of both types of abnormalities. Results of an experimental study using a set of 60 mammograms -- 22 containing circumscribed masses, 19 containing stellate lesions, and 19 containing no tumors -- are presented.