Radiation Effects Quantification in Breast Radiotherapy by Mammography Image Processing

We have attempted to quantify the radiation effects on the breast as a result of the radiotherapy application in breast cancer by the aid of the image processing software IDL 6.1. of Research Systems Inc. We used the 2 years follow up mammography series of 12 patients treated in our radiotherapy department after lumpectomy. By processing the mammographic images data, we have introduced the Index, I, defined as the ratio of the Initial Mean Pixel Value (MPV1) and the Mean Pixel Value at the time of interest (MPVT) of the breast as Region of Interest. The values of the index show the post-irradiation conditions of the breast. Until breast reaches its initial condition (as it was just before the radiotherapy), index is less than I. In the total period of our study there are two discrete situations: At the first period, after radiotherapy completeness where edema is recognized; and the second time period, where we demonstrate or not fibrosis in the delayed processed images. These results are compared to the medical data of each patient. We develop a simplified method for breast radiation effects detection as a support to patients' follow up, in order to define the final permanent tissue configuration of their breast.