Contrast enhancement of mammographic features: A comparison of four methods

The performance of four methods for feature enhancement of mammographic images - optimal adaptive neighborhood image processing, automatic spatial filtering, adaptive histogram equalization, and maximal contrast pixel to pixel - are compared. Each method is tested using a database of 50 mammographic images, which included simulated starshaped nodules. A contrast parameter was used to compare the performance of each processing method. It was found that the maximal contrast pixel-to-pixel method gives the highest contrast value. A mammogram including a real subtle lesion is used to illustrate the usefulness of this last contrast enhancement method in clinical diagnosis.