Mammalyzer II A Decision Support System for Early Detection of Breast Cancer in Contrast-Enhanced MRI

We present an integrated system for the automatic analysis of MRI-breast images towards the early detection of breast cancer. The system operates on taken images using the method of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Suspicious breast lesions are automatically marked with colours, thus directing the physician’s attention towards the critical regions. The medical support system is based on image-matching algorithms using self organizing maps (SOM) and Monte Carlo methods, which enables the system to work properly even with image sequences that are strongly deformed by the patients breathing movements. The system is tested on real patient data and is now being refined in cooperation with Dr. Buddenbrock, Dr Blasinger, Dr. Benz hospital for Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Mainz.