Cumulative Techniques for Early Detection of Breast Cancer: A Review
Parvati N. Angadi · 2014
Mammography is one of the frequently known terms associated with early detection of breast cancer. The precise identification of breast cancer followed by diagnosis is one of the critical and sophisticated phenomenons which require higher dimensionality of preciseness and accuracy. Reviewing the majority of the commonly adopted process in the existing system, it was explored that the stages of breast cancer detection in viewpoint of image processing is classified as preprocessing, segmentation, and decomposition. This paper discusses about the frequently adopted techniques explored from the prior to most recent research work that contributes to the early identification of breast cancer. The study elaborates and encapsulates briefly about the contribution of image processing towards detection of breast cancer. I. Introduction Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make up the breasts and other parts of the body. Normal cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When normal cells grow old or get damaged, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when the body doesn't need them, and old or damaged cells don't die as they should. The buildup of extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a lump, growth, or tumor. Cancer that forms in the tissues of breast (1), usually in the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and in the lobules (glands that make milk) is the breast cancer. It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare. Early detection of cancer through screening has been determined to reduce mortality from cancers of the colon and rectum, breast, uterine cervix, and lung. Screening refers to testing in individuals who are asymptomatic for a particular disease (i.e., they have no symptoms that may indicate the presence of disease). In addition to detecting cancer early, screening for various types of cancers can identify and result in the removal of abnormalities that may become precancerous and prevent potential progression to cancer. In the US, overweight and obesity contribute to 14%-20% of all cancer-related deaths (2). Breast cancer risk appears to increase with increasing intake of alcohol, and studies suggest a modest increased risk at even a few drinks per week. Breast cancer screening has been shown to reduce breast cancer mortality. In the US, death rates from breast cancer in women have been declining since 1990, due in part to early detection by mammography screening and improvements in treatment. Currently, 60% of breast cancers are diagnosed at a localized stage, for which the five-year survival rate is 98% (3). Further reductions in breast cancer death rates are possible by improving regular use of mammography screening and providing timely access to high-quality follow up and treatment. Scientific knowledge of how to identify women at increased risk of breast cancer is enabling the development of tools for risk assessment for clinical practice. For most women at high risk, screening with MRI and mammograms should begin at age 30 years and continue for as long as a woman is in good health. But because the evidence is limited about the best age at which to start screening, this decision should be based on shared decision making between patients and their health care providers, taking into account personal circumstances and preferences. Several risk assessment tools, with names like the Gail model, the Claus model, and the Tyrer-Cuzick model (4), are available to help health professionals estimate a woman's breast cancer risk. These tools give approximate, rather than precise, estimates of breast cancer risk based on different combinations of risk factors and different data sets There is no evidence right now that MRI is an effective screening tool for women at average risk. MRI is more sensitive than mammograms, but it also has a higher false-positive rate (it is more likely to find something that turns out not to be cancer). This would lead to unneeded biopsies and other tests in many of these women, which can lead to a lot of worry and anxiety. A mammogram cannot prove that an abnormal area is cancer. To confirm cancer is present, a small amount of tissue must be removed and looked at under a microscope. This procedure, called a biopsy, therefore, early detection of the cancer is extremely critical from research viewpoint. This paper, however, will discuss about the various standard techniques that were adopted in the past for the purpose of detecting cancer from image processing viewpoint. II. Current Approach Detection and diagnosis of breast cancer in its early stage increases the chances for successful treatment and complete recovery of the patient. Screening mammography is currently the best available radiological technique