Image Processing and Registration of Opposed View 3D Breast Ultrasound

We are studying opposed view ultrasonic imaging (OVI) of the breast in the mammographic geometry, with probable future automation and alignment with X-ray tomosynthesis. OVI through a filament mesh paddle results in improved spatial resolution, contrast, and signal-to-noise ratio. We expect these images will be of a quality that justifies their use for screening purposes, especially for subjects with dense breasts. A previous study assessed machine learning for isolating image artifacts, which included posterior acoustic shadowing from cancers and enhancement arising from cysts. The image volumes were acquired on a custom breast-mimicking phantom containing multiple cysts and solid masses. This paper reports that 3D non-linear registration of opposed view image volumes was robust for the segmented image volumes with noisy areas excluded.