The dominant signature of thermal breast images is vascular heat. We analyzed dynamic thermograms as a response to external stimuli. The vascular response to temperature stimulus is affected by vasomodulation. We are using the Brazilian visual lab mastology data set. The recorded data is analyzed by converting the diffusive heat propagation into a virtual wave and identifying the reflection using component analysis. We identified two classes of images: 1. The dominant one is a reflection at the same polarity as the applied temperature stimulus (vasoconstriction). 2. A second reflection at twice the depth and reverse polarity (vascular reflection).
We suggest a method for biomedical imaging with heat in the far infrared spectrum using principal and independent components analysis. This method produces novel results suggesting physiologic mechanisms of considerable importance for diagnostic imaging. When using thermal imaging to detect breast cancer the dominant heat signature is of indirect heat transported by the blood away from the tumor location into the skin. Interpretation is usually based on vascular angiogenesis and not by observing the direct cancerous heat. In this new method one uses sequence of thermal images of the patient breast following external temperature change. Data is recorded and analyze using independent component analysis (ICA) and principal component analysis (PCA). ICA separate the images sequence into new independent images having common characteristic time behavior. Using the Brazilian visual lab mastology data set we observed three type of images: Images corresponding to minimum change as function of applied temperature or time which are associate with the cancer generated heat, images which shows moderate temperature dependent and are associate with veins affected by vasomodulation and images that shows complex time behavior indicating heat absorption by high perfusion of the tumor. All components are clear and distinct.
The purpose of this work is to introduce a new analytical inversion method for three-dimensional (3D) sub-surface imaging beneath the skin from time sequenced infrared (IR) thermography images. The work was motivated by advances in transient thermal nondestructive evaluation methods. Using relationships between wave propagation and thermal diffusive propagation, transformation from diffusive propagation into an equivalent wave field is performed. This transformation results in well-defined reflections with time delay proportional to the distance. We apply the algorithm to a dynamic thermogram of the breasts obtained from the Brazilian breast thermal imaging set. Inversion of the raw data reveals intensities that correspond to heat conduction. Equivalent wave field transform (EWFT) serves as a computationally efficient method of extracting depth resolved anatomical and physiological information from skin surface thermogram data.
The purpose of this work is to introduce a new analytical inversion method for three-dimensional (3D) sub-surface imaging beneath the skin from time sequenced infrared (IR) thermography images. The work was motivated by advances in thermal nondestructive evaluation methods. Using relationships between wave propagation and thermal diffusive propagation, transformation from diffusive propagation into an equivalent wave field is performed. This transformation results in well-defined reflections with time delay proportional to the distance. We apply the algorithm to a dynamic thermogram of histologically confirmed breast carcinoma obtained from the Brazilian breast thermal imaging set. Inversion of the raw data reveals intensities that correspond to heat conduction, most notable is presence of hyperintense, aberrant vascularization in the diseased breast in comparison with the non-diseased breast. Equivalent wave field transform (EWFT) serves as a computationally efficient method of extracting depth resolved anatomical and physiological information from skin surface thermogram data for research purposes.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.