Segmentation of Breast Regions in Mammogram Based on Density: A Review
The focus of this paper is to review approaches for segmentation of breast regions in mammograms according to breast density. Studies based on density have been undertaken because of the relationship between breast cancer and density. Breast cancer usually occurs in the fibroglandular area of breast tissue, which appears bright on mammograms and describes as breast density. Most of the studies focused on the classification method for the glandular tissue detection. Others highlighted on the segmentation method of fibroglandular tissue, while few researchers performed segmentation of the anatomical regions based on density. There have also been works on the segmentation of other specific parts of breast regions such as either detection of nipple position, skin-air interface or pectoral muscle. The problem on evaluation performance of the segmentation result in relation to ground truth is also discussed in this paper.
Keywords: Image segmentation, breast density, mammogram, medical image processing, medical imaging.
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Nafiza Saidin
Nafiza Saidin received her B.Eng degree (Medical Electronic) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in August, 1999. She subsequently undertook research at Universiti Sains Malaysia, honoured her with an M.Sc degree (Medical Imaging) in 2005. She has published a number of conference papers, and her main interests are in biomedical engineering, image processing and medical imaging. Currently, she is a postgraduate student at PhD level at Universiti Sains Malaysia. She is a member of IEEE.
Harsa Amylia Mat Sakim
Harsa Amylia Mat Sakim received the Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Liverpool, the MS from University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, and PhD degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia. Dr. Harsa Amylia works in School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Universiti Sains Malaysia where she researches and teaches Signals and Systems, Control Systems, Instrumentation and Circuit Theory. She has published many papers in international journals, including a book chapter related to Intelligent Systems, especially in breast cancer studies. Her research interests include Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering and Medical Electronics and Instrumentation. She is a member of IEEE.
Umi Kalthum Ngah
Associate Professor Dr. Umi Kalthum Ngah, (B.Sc. (Hons) Sheffield, M.Sc. (USM), Ph.D (USM)) received her B.Sc. (Hons.) in Comp. Sc. from the University of Sheffield in 1981. In 1995, she received her M.Sc. in Electronic Engineering (majoring in Image Processing and Knowledge Based Systems) from Universiti Sains Malaysia and then pursued further degree at the same university where she received her Ph.D. in the same area in the year 2007. She has been with USM since the year 1981, starting her career as a tutor. Currently, she is attached to the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, USM Engineering Campus. Her current research interests include image processing, particularly medical imaging, knowledge based and artificial intelligence systems (including animal inspired optimization techniques) and biomedical engineering focusing on intelligent systems. Her work has been published in numerous international and national journals, chapters in books, international and national proceedings.
Ibrahim Lutfi Shuaib
Professor Dr. Ibrahim Lutfi Shuaib, (MBBS (UM), DMRD (Liverpool), FRCR (UK)) graduated from University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur in 1985 with MBBS. In 1988, he joined the Merseyside radiology training scheme in Liverpool, UK as an honorary registrar. He obtained Diploma in Diagnostic Radiology (DMRD) from University of Liverpool in 1990. Following that, he joined Leicestershire radiology training scheme in Leicester, UK as a registrar. In 1991, he was accepted to join the radiology training scheme as a senior registrar in the Merseyside, Liverpool area. He returned to Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian in 1993 as a lecturer after obtaining FRCR (UK) in 1992. He is now working in Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Kepala Batas. His interest is in musculoskeletal radiology and Health Informatics.
Nafiza Saidin
Nafiza Saidin received her B.Eng degree (Medical Electronic) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in August, 1999. She subsequently undertook research at Universiti Sains Malaysia, honoured her with an M.Sc degree (Medical Imaging) in 2005. She has published a number of conference papers, and her main interests are in biomedical engineering, image processing and medical imaging. Currently, she is a postgraduate student at PhD level at Universiti Sains Malaysia. She is a member of IEEE.
Harsa Amylia Mat Sakim
Harsa Amylia Mat Sakim received the Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Liverpool, the MS from University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, and PhD degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia. Dr. Harsa Amylia works in School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Universiti Sains Malaysia where she researches and teaches Signals and Systems, Control Systems, Instrumentation and Circuit Theory. She has published many papers in international journals, including a book chapter related to Intelligent Systems, especially in breast cancer studies. Her research interests include Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering and Medical Electronics and Instrumentation. She is a member of IEEE.
Umi Kalthum Ngah
Associate Professor Dr. Umi Kalthum Ngah, (B.Sc. (Hons) Sheffield, M.Sc. (USM), Ph.D (USM)) received her B.Sc. (Hons.) in Comp. Sc. from the University of Sheffield in 1981. In 1995, she received her M.Sc. in Electronic Engineering (majoring in Image Processing and Knowledge Based Systems) from Universiti Sains Malaysia and then pursued further degree at the same university where she received her Ph.D. in the same area in the year 2007. She has been with USM since the year 1981, starting her career as a tutor. Currently, she is attached to the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, USM Engineering Campus. Her current research interests include image processing, particularly medical imaging, knowledge based and artificial intelligence systems (including animal inspired optimization techniques) and biomedical engineering focusing on intelligent systems. Her work has been published in numerous international and national journals, chapters in books, international and national proceedings.
Ibrahim Lutfi Shuaib
Professor Dr. Ibrahim Lutfi Shuaib, (MBBS (UM), DMRD (Liverpool), FRCR (UK)) graduated from University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur in 1985 with MBBS. In 1988, he joined the Merseyside radiology training scheme in Liverpool, UK as an honorary registrar. He obtained Diploma in Diagnostic Radiology (DMRD) from University of Liverpool in 1990. Following that, he joined Leicestershire radiology training scheme in Leicester, UK as a registrar. In 1991, he was accepted to join the radiology training scheme as a senior registrar in the Merseyside, Liverpool area. He returned to Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian in 1993 as a lecturer after obtaining FRCR (UK) in 1992. He is now working in Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Kepala Batas. His interest is in musculoskeletal radiology and Health Informatics.
