Computer-aided detection and diagnosis of breast abnormalities in digital mammography

Successful treatment of breast cancer depends on early detection and diagnosis of breast abnormalities and lesions. Mammography is the best available examination for the detection of early signs of breast cancer such as masses, calcifications, bilateral asymmetry and architectural distortion. Because of the limitations of human observers, computers have major role in detecting early signs of cancer. Wide range of features that define abnormalities and the fact that they are often indistinguishable from the surrounding tissue makes the computer-aided detection and diagnosis of breast abnormalities a challenge. This paper discusses breast lesions and their features. The paper briefly presents some of the developed computer-aided detection and diagnosis methods for each lesion.