Microcalcification detection in mammograms based on fuzzy logic and cellular automata

Abstract

In the early diagnosis of breast cancer, computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems help in the detection of abnormal tissue. Microcalcifications can be an early indication of breast cancer. This work describes the implementation of a new method for the detection of microcalcifications in mammographies. The images were obtained from the mini-MIAS database. In the proposed method, the images are preprocessed using an x and y gradient operators, the output of each filter is the input of a fuzzy system that will detect areas with high-tone variation. The next step consists of a cellular automaton that uses a set of local rules to eliminate noise and keep the pixels with higher probabilities of belonging to a microcalcification region. Comparative results are presented.