Normalized maximum intensity time ratio maps and morphological descriptors for assessment of malignancy in MR mammography

Effectiveness of morphological descriptors based on normalized maximum intensity-time ratio (nMITR) maps generated using a 3 x 3 pixel moving mask on dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetoresistance (MR) mammograms are studied for assessment of malignancy. After a rough indication of volume of interest on the nMITR maps, lesions are automatically segmented. Two-dimensional (2D) convexity, normalized complexity, extent, and eccentricity as well as three-dimensional (3D) versions of these descriptors and contact surface area ratio are computed. On a data set consisting of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR DCE-MR mammograms from 51 women that contain 26 benign and 32 malignant lesions, 3D convexity, complexity, and extent are found to reflect aggressiveness of malignancy better than 2D descriptors. Contact surface area ratio which is easily adaptable to different imaging resolutions is found to be the most significant and accurate descriptor (75% sensitivity, 88% specificity, 89% positive predictive values, and 74% negative predictive values).