Pending...

Last class, Serge suggested that I extract patches from my b-mode images and sort them from less dense to denser. Looking through my images, I realized that I only care for certain region of the image. In other word, the region of interest in each b-mode image changes because the size of the region containing the breast scan varies in each slice. So this is taking longer than I expected !!

After collecting the patches, I need to sort them. I compute the average reflectivity of each image that allows for automated sorting of the images from less dense to denser. We know that the glandular (more dense) tissues have a higher reflectivity than fatty tissues.
more images here

Breast Density coming into mainstream

Dr. Oz is talking about breast density.  He repeats the "5 times the risk" finding as it is mentioned in other literature by scientists.





http://www.nebeker.org/research/dr_oz_breast_density.mov

Rational

Breast cancer is a highly probable disease affecting one of every eight women in the United States. Early detection is the most significant factor determining survival. Mammography is the customary method for early detection, however, since most cancers arise in dense ductal tissue, early cancer identification in women with dense breasts, and those at increased risk for breast cancer, is particularly challenging for mammography with detection rates only in the range of 50%.
The breast cancer community needs more precise and accurate tools for early detection of breast cancer. Women with dense breasts, who are younger, or who are at higher risk of developing breast cancer, in particular, lack effective screening tools and thus are either diagnosed at later stages of the disease or are subjected to multiple surgical biopsies to obtain a true diagnosis.

Curtsy of Thomas R. Nelson, Ph.D. Professor – Department of Radiology at the University of California San Diego

Objective

This project aims to improve early breast cancer detection in patients with dense breasts using automated volume breast ultrasound scanning that could provide low-cost, low-risk screening.

Over the course of this project, we will show that a more precise assessment of breast density and breast tissue properties resulting from standardized scanning of the breast using a high-resolution volume breast US scanning system will provide improved detection of non-palpable breast cancers occult to mammography in women with dense breasts, who are younger, or are at higher risk of developing breast cancer and require more frequent imaging.

Risk of breast cancer according to breast density