Fusion of ultrasonic and radiographic images of the breast

Abstract

The diagnosis of breast pathologies requires in most cases a mammographic and an echographic examination. Radiographic and ultrasonic images are complementary for the elaboration of a diagnosis. To realize both examinations quasi simultaneously, a device has been developed to acquire data from the same volume of interest in the breast: 2D radiographic images and a series of ultrasonic images which constitutes a volume of data. From this volume, an ultrasonic image, similar to a X-ray image is synthesized by a conical projection of the volume. The important information provided by each modality is then merged by data fusion techniques, involving fuzzy logic, to provide an image which is a tool for diagnostic aid.