Registration and difference analysis of corresponding mammogram images

An automated technique is proposed for identifying differences between corresponding mammogram images. The technique recovers an approximate deformation between a pair of mammograms based on identifying corresponding features across the two images. The registration process is completed using an unwarping technique for transforming one image into the coordinate system of the other. A difference image is generated using intensity-weighted subtraction in order to identify regions of large difference. Evaluation of the technique is performed using 124 bilateral image pairs which contain a total of 77 abnormalities of different types. The purpose of this paper is to measure the extent to which the mammogram registration technique is able to provide useful information for identifying abnormalities in mammograms.