Morphological analysis for feature extraction and classification of breast calcifications

Calcifications (calcium build-ups) in breast regions are frequently found in breast screening examinations. It is estimated that 90% of nonpalpable intraductal breast cancers are detectable morphologically by the presence of calcifications. This work performs a morphological analysis of regions of interest related to breast calcifications by extraction of a set of features that help the health care provider in the automatic classification of these calcifications. The results are being validated in a controlled test that simulates calcifications in order to consider morphological information that characterizes the geometrical characteristics. This allows one to assign an object signature and hence to approximate the test conditions to real calcifications.