METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING A BREAST EXAMINATION

Abstract

A method for monitoring a breast tissue examination is described. In the method, a completed diagnostic assessment of individual image slices of a slice image dataset to be examined in respect of breast tissue that is to be examined is registered automatically. In addition, information relating to the already assessed and the not yet assessed image slices is displayed to a user. An examination workflow monitoring device is also described. A diagnostic assessment station is described in addition.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a breast tissue examination, which comprises the steps of: performing an automated registration of a completed diagnostic assessment of individual image slices of a slice image dataset to be examined in respect of breast tissue that is to be examined; and performing an automated displaying of information relating to already assessed image slices and not yet assessed image slices.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the slice image dataset contains a 3D mammography image dataset.

3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises displaying the already assessed image slices and the not yet assessed image slices by means of an additional display field.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the additional display field has an indicator bar.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the indicator bar flags the not yet assessed image slices with a different marking than the already assessed image slices.

6. The method according to claim 4, which further comprises automatically displaying a slice position of a currently assessed image slice in the indicator bar and/or selecting a desired image slice in the indicator bar and the slice is automatically displayed for diagnostic assessment.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the additional display field has a navigation function.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the navigation function is triggered by selecting a section associated with an image slice in the additional display field and the image slice associated with a selected section is displayed automatically.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the 3D mammography image dataset is a tomosynthesis image dataset.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the slice image dataset contains a tomosynthesis image dataset.

11. A method for diagnostic assessment of breast tissue that is to be examined, which comprises the steps of: acquiring a slice image dataset of the breast tissue that is to be examined; carrying out a diagnostic assessment on a basis of the slice image dataset, wherein individual image slices of the slice image dataset are evaluated; performing an automated registration of a completed diagnostic assessment of the individual image slices of the slice image dataset to be examined in respect of the breast tissue that is to be examined; and performing an automated displaying of information relating to already assessed image slices and not yet assessed image slices.

12. The method according to claim 11, which further comprises: acquiring an overview image dataset having an overview image of the breast tissue that is to be examined; displaying the overview image dataset and an individual slice of the slice image dataset concurrently; and selecting the image slice to be evaluated from the slice image dataset by focusing in on a region of interest in the overview image.

13. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises selecting the image slice to be evaluated, in an automated manner, in dependence on a position in a slice direction of a tissue structure visualized in the region of interest.

14. An examination workflow monitoring device, comprising: a registration unit for automated registration of a completed diagnostic assessment of individual image slices; and an image slice information display unit for an automated displaying of information relating to already assessed image slices and not yet assessed image slices.

15. A diagnostic assessment station, comprising: an input interface for acquisition of a slice image dataset of breast tissue that is to be examined; a diagnostic assessment unit for carrying out a diagnostic assessment on a basis of the slice image dataset, wherein individual image slices of the slice image dataset are displayed for evaluation; an examination workflow monitoring device having a registration unit for automated registration of a completed diagnostic assessment of the individual image slices; and an image slice information display unit for an automated displaying of information relating to already assessed and not yet assessed image slices.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions which can be read in and executed by a processing unit of a computer unit for performing a method for monitoring a breast tissue examination, which comprises the steps of: performing an automated registration of a completed diagnostic assessment of individual image slices of a slice image dataset to be examined in respect of breast tissue that is to be examined; and performing an automated displaying of information relating to already assessed image slices and not yet assessed image slices.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0034] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a mammography system for two-dimensional x-ray imaging of a breast;

[0035] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a tomosynthesis system for three-dimensional x-ray imaging of a breast;

[0036] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a concurrent display of a slice image and an overview image and in addition an indicator bar which provides information concerning the already processed image slices and the still to be processed image slices within the scope of a diagnostic assessment, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a block diagram which shows a breast examination system having a diagnostic assessment station according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

[0038] FIG. 5 is a flowchart which illustrates a method for diagnostic assessment of breast tissue that is to be examined according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a system 10 for two-dimensional x-ray imaging of the breast, also known as a mammography system. The mammography system 10 contains an x-ray source 1 from which x-ray radiation 2 is emitted in a fan-shaped beam, i.e. in a beam opening out orthogonally to the propagation direction, in the direction of a breast 4. The breast 4 is positioned on a breast support table 5 and is pressed against the breast support table 5 by a compression paddle 3. In this way the thickness of the breast 4 is reduced in the propagation direction of the x-ray radiation 2, i.e. in the z-direction. The reduction in the thickness of the object 4 irradiated by the x-ray radiation 2 is accompanied by a decrease in the scattered radiation. Some of the x-ray radiation 2 incident on the breast 4 is absorbed. The rest of the x-ray radiation 2 incident on the breast 4 is transmitted and detected by an image sensor 6, in this case an x-ray detector.

[0040] A conventional tomosynthesis system 20 for three-dimensional x-ray imaging of a breast 4 is shown schematically in FIG. 2. In contrast to the 2D mammography system 10 shown in FIG. 1, the tomosynthesis system 20 contains an x-ray source 1 which is rotatable around the object center point M and by which x-ray imaging of a breast 4 can be performed from different directions or angles. The tomosynthesis system 20 shown in FIG. 2 also contains a compression paddle 3 which presses the breast 4 to be examined against a breast support table 5. The breast 4 to be examined is irradiated by the x-ray source 1 from different angles, during which process a plurality of individual images of the breast 4 are acquired by an x-ray detector 6, also known as an image sensor. A three-dimensional slice image representation is calculated from the individual images, thus enabling a slice-by-slice examination of the tissue of the imaged breast 4.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a graphical user interface 30 of a diagnostic assessment station (see FIG. 4). The graphical user interface 30 may be embodied for example in the form of a screen, implemented as a touchscreen, or in the form of a combination of a screen with an input unit, such as a mouse or a keyboard, for example. Mammographic image data of the diagnostic assessment station is shown on the screen. Furthermore, instructions to the diagnostic assessment station may also be input via the graphical user interface 30 in order, for example, to display specific image slices containing the mammographic image data. A two-dimensional overview image BD.sub.M of a female breast 4 viewed from above is shown in a left-hand subarea 31 on a display field of the graphical user interface 30. A slice-by-slice visualization of the female breast 4 viewed from above is shown in a central subarea 32. A navigation aid in the form of an indicator bar B is also shown in a right-hand subarea 33. In the present example, the indicator bar B has a plurality of fifty-four slice fields S1,. . . , S54 in total, each of which is associated with an acquired image slice BS.sub.i, which can be displayed in the central subarea 32. The indicator bar B additionally contains a navigation bar N with a slider element ES which can be moved to any desired slice field position S1, . . . , S54 in order to display a corresponding image slice BS; in the central subarea 32. The individual image slices BS; can therefore be selected and called up with the aid of the slider element ES in order to be displayed in the central subarea 32. According to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive method for monitoring a breast tissue examination, the already retrieved image slices or the slice field positions S10, S11, S12 associated therewith are colored green, which is indicated in FIG. 3 by means of oblique hatching.

[0042] The slices not yet retrieved or their associated slice field positions are colored red, which is indicated in FIG. 3 by means of an absence of hatching of the corresponding areas of the indicator bar B. The slice field position S17 of the indicator bar B associated with the image slice BS.sub.17 just retrieved is flagged by a special marking, for example by a different color or colored border, which is symbolized in FIG. 3 by checkered hatching. The checking and display of the image slices read or not read in each case results in a kind of progress indicator. In addition, the radiologist preparing the diagnostic findings can selectively call up the image slices that have not yet been viewed, thereby avoiding certain image slices from being inspected twice and others in turn not being examined at all. A further function of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 consists in being able to store information relating to the viewed image slices, for example with regard to provisional diagnostic findings, in the supplementary information thereof in order in this way to be able subsequently to track the progress of the diagnostic assessment and in order to obtain information for further optimizations of the diagnostic assessment.

[0043] A further feature of the embodiment variant shown in FIG. 3 is that in the left-hand subarea 31 in the overview image a first region of interest ROI1, which is flagged by a rectangular marking in the bottom left subarea 31, can be selected. Then, depending on in which slice the structures present in the region of interest ROI1 are mainly located, the corresponding image slice for the first region of interest ROI1 is automatically displayed in the central subarea 32, wherein the position or, as the case may be, a region ROI1′ corresponding to the first region of interest ROI1 is also simultaneously transferred onto the image slice BS.sub.17 that is to be displayed and is also displayed in the central subarea 32 at the cited position. This process is symbolized in FIG. 3 by a solid arrow between the first region of interest ROI1 and the region ROI1′ corresponding thereto in the associated image slice BS.sub.17.

[0044] Dashed arrows indicate the process sequence for selecting an image slice BS.sub.3 with the aid of the indicator bar B, wherein an image slice field S3 corresponding to the desired image slice BS.sub.3 is first selected on the indicator bar B with the aid of the slider element ES. The corresponding slice is then displayed on the screen in the central subarea 32. Following this, a second region of interest ROI2 is flagged by the user with an additional marking in the left-hand subarea 31 of the display 30. The second region of interest ROI2 is subsequently transferred automatically into the third image slice BS.sub.3 displayed in the central subarea 32 and corresponding to the image slice field S3, where said region is designated as ROI2′.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a breast examination system 40 having a diagnostic assessment device 50, also known as a diagnostic assessment station, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The breast examination system 40 additionally has a medical imaging device 60 by which both an overview image of a breast that is to be examined is acquired, for example as a 2D mammography image BD.sub.M, and in addition a three-dimensional image BD.sub.T, for example a tomosynthesis image, of the breast that is to be examined is acquired. Furthermore, the breast examination system 40 also contains the graphical user interface 30 illustrated in FIG. 3 in the form of a touch screen for communication with a user, for example a physician, who wishes to prepare a set of diagnostic findings on the basis of the acquired image data BD.sub.M, BD.sub.T. The image data BD.sub.M, BD.sub.T acquired in relation to the breast to be examined on the part of the medical imaging device 60 is transmitted via an input interface 51 to the cited diagnostic assessment device 50. There, the image data BD.sub.M, BD.sub.T is transmitted to a diagnostic assessment unit 52. The diagnostic assessment unit 52 is configured to select individual image slices BS.sub.i (in this case the image slices BS.sub.3, BS.sub.17) of the three-dimensional image data BD.sub.T and to display the same concurrently with the overview image data BD.sub.M on the graphical interface 30. The diagnostic assessment unit 52 is furthermore configured to localize, on the basis of a region of interest ROI1 specified by the user, a tissue structure present in the region ROI1 and to select an image slice BS.sub.17 associated with one or more of the tissue structures and to display the same on the screen 30 by transmission via an output interface 56. In addition, a region ROI1′ corresponding to the position of the region of interest ROI1 is also displayed together with the respective image slice BS.sub.17.

[0046] The diagnostic assessment unit 52 furthermore passes on the information relating to the selected or identified image slice BS.sub.17 to an examination workflow monitoring device 53. The examination workflow monitoring device 53 contains a registration unit 54 and an image slice information display unit 55. On the basis of the information obtained in relation to the displayed image slice BS.sub.17, the registration unit 54 registers and stores information to the effect that said image slice BS.sub.17 is currently undergoing a diagnostic assessment. It then forwards the information B-BS.sub.17 to the image slice information display unit 55, which outputs an instruction to present the information B-BS.sub.17 on the screen 30 via the output interface 56 to the effect that the image slice BS.sub.17 in question is currently being assessed. This information B-BS.sub.17 is displayed on the screen 30 for example by marking a section S17 associated with the image slice B5.sub.17 on an indicator bar B (see FIG. 3).

[0047] Conversely, an image slice BS.sub.3 that is to be displayed on the screen 30 can also be selected directly by a user in that, for example, the user moves a slider element ES on a navigation bar N to the desired position S3 (see FIG. 3). In the case of a touch-screen being used, for example, the information concerning the selected area S3 of the indicator bar B associated with a specific slice BS.sub.3, as well as a region of interest ROI2 possibly selected on the overview image, is transmitted via the input/output interface 56 to the diagnostic assessment unit 52. In the diagnostic assessment unit, a desired image slice BS.sub.3 and a region of interest ROI2′ corresponding to the selected region of interest ROI2 are determined in the selected image slice BS.sub.3 and displayed on the screen 30 via the input/output interface 56. In addition, the information concerning the selected image slice BS.sub.3 is passed on to the examination workflow monitoring device 53 or, as the case may be, to the registration unit 54 integrated therein. The registration unit 54 stores the information B-BS.sub.3 to the effect that the image slice BS.sub.3 in question is currently being assessed and forwards said information B-BS.sub.3 to the image slice information display unit 55. The image slice information display unit 55 transmits, via the input/output interface 56, an instruction to display information B-BS.sub.3 on the screen 30 indicating that the image slice BS.sub.3 in question is currently being assessed. This information is displayed on the screen 30 for example by marking a section S3 associated with the image slice BS.sub.3 on an indicator bar B (see FIG. 3).

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart 500 by which a method for diagnostic assessment of breast tissue that is to be examined is illustrated. Firstly, at a step 5.I, a slice image dataset BD.sub.T of the breast tissue 4 to be examined is acquired. The slice image dataset BD.sub.T can be acquired for example with the aid of a tomosynthesis imaging method. Next, at step 5.II, a diagnostic assessment is carried out on the basis of the slice image dataset BD.sub.T, wherein individual image slices BS; of the slice image dataset BD.sub.T are evaluated.

[0049] At step 5.III, the diagnostic assessment is now monitored in that a completed diagnostic assessment of individual image slices BS; of a slice image dataset BD.sub.T to be examined in respect of breast tissue that is to be examined is registered in an automated manner. In addition, at step 5.IV, information B-BS; relating to the already assessed and the not yet assessed image slices is automatically displayed so that a user can selectively pick out the not yet assessed slices and document his or her work and can thus avoid unnecessary additional effort, in particular due to an unintended duplicated diagnostic assessment of individual slices.

[0050] In conclusion, it is pointed out once again that the methods and devices described in the foregoing are simply preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention and that the invention may be varied by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention insofar as this is defined by the claims. Accordingly, the method for diagnostic assessment of breast tissue that is to be examined and the examination workflow monitoring device 53 have been illustrated primarily on the basis of the visualization of tomosynthesis image data BD.sub.T. However, the invention is not limited to an application to image data of said type, but rather the invention may also be applied generally to all types of slice image visualizations. It is also pointed out for the sake of completeness that the use of the indefinite articles “a” or “an” does not exclude the possibility that the features in question may also be present more than once. Equally, the term “unit” does not rule out the possibility that the same consists of a plurality of components, which if necessary may also be spatially distributed.

[0051] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0052] 1 X-ray source 1 [0053] 2 X-ray radiation [0054] 3 Compression plate [0055] 4 Breast [0056] 5 Breast support table [0057] 6 Image sensor/x-ray detector [0058] 10 Mammography system [0059] 20 Tomosynthesis system [0060] 30 Graphical user interface/display [0061] 31 Left subarea [0062] 32 Central subarea [0063] 33 Right subarea [0064] 40 Breast examination system [0065] 50 Diagnostic assessment device/diagnostic assessment station [0066] 51 Input interface [0067] 52 Diagnostic assessment unit [0068] 53 Examination workflow monitoring device [0069] 54 Registration unit [0070] 55 Image slice information display unit [0071] 56 Output interface [0072] 60 Medical imaging device [0073] B Indicator bar [0074] B-BS.sub.i, B-BS.sub.3, B-BS.sub.17 Information concerning assessed image slice [0075] BD.sub.M 2D mammography image [0076] BD.sub.T Three-dimensional image acquisition [0077] BS.sub.i, BS.sub.3, BS.sub.17 Image slice [0078] ES Slider element [0079] M Object center point [0080] N Navigation bar [0081] ROI1 First region of interest [0082] ROI1′ Region corresponding to the first region of interest [0083] ROI2 Second region of interest [0084] ROI2′ Region corresponding to the second region of interest [0085] S1,. . . , S54 Slice fields/slice field positions [0086] S3, S10, S11, S12, S17 Slice field positions