Breast skin-line segmentation using contour growing

Abstract

This paper presents a novel methodology to obtain the breast skin line in mammographic images. The breast edge provides important information of the breast shape and deformation which is posteriorly used by other processing techniques, typically mammographic image registration and abnormality detection. The proposed methodology is based on applying edge detection algorithms and scale space concepts. The proposed method is a particular implementation (application focused) of a growing active contour with common considerations. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation is provided to show the validity of the approach. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.