**4. Imaging modalities for cancer diagnosis**

Different types of imaging modalities are utilized in diagnosis. How to get an image from modalities is a popular inquiry for the audience. Some imaging modalities are given below:

### **4.1 Mammography**

One of the most frequent diagnostics for detecting breast tissue abnormalities is mammography, which uses X-rays to create images of the breast that is known as a mammogram [45]. The two-dimensional image that relies on the identification of morphologic findings for breast cancer these findings include masses, grouped calcifications, asymmetries, and areas of architectural distortion. Spot compression, magnification, rolling, extended views, and genuine lateral views are some of the diagnostic mammographic views that can be used to describe and locate abnormalities [46]. When a high-energy X-ray photon with a low dose interacts

with tissue, the photon is attenuated. The reconstruction method captures and images changes in attenuation. In terms of identifying cancer, it has a high specificity sensitivity and temporal response of a portable gadget (about 1 minute). When employing mammography, good resolution means higher accuracy in thick breasts. The number of false-positive predictions is considerable. When compared to CT and MRI, the contrast is poor [47].

Worldwide breast cancer screening programs, digital mammography (DM) use as a standard imaging technique. The primary benefit of DBT is that it provides depth information about the breast, allowing for improved imaging of possible concealed lesions and demonstrating a difficult reconstruction procedure to build a pseudo-3D representation of the breast from a small number of projection images [48]. The image quality of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) volumes depends greatly on the reconstruction algorithm [49]. DBT images have the acquisition of several low-dose planar X-ray projections of the compressed breast over a limited angular range, which is then reconstructed into a pseudo-3D volume. The inherent challenges of this acquisition approach degrade image quality. The limited angle acquisition gives rise to out-of-plane artifacts and low vertical resolution, the low dose per projection increases the impact of noise, and X-ray scatter decreases contrast. The reconstruction algorithm is one of the main aspects of image creation that could ameliorate these technical drawbacks and therefore can greatly affect the final quality of DBT images [50]. DBT has been demonstrated to help with two-dimensional (2D) mammography breast tissue overlapping concerns. However, contemporary DBT technologies are still limited in comparison to mammography. Statistical image reconstruction (SIR) approaches have the ability to reduce DBT through-plane artifacts, and hence could be utilized to reduce anatomical clutter even more [51].

Galactography can detect a variety of breast abnormalities, including pathological nipple discharge, which is described as bloody, serous, or clear single-orifice nipple discharge [52]. The GL technique is essential for diagnosing and finding intraductal lesions. GL has been shown in several trials to be ineffective in distinguishing benign from malignant tumors [53].

Scintimammography using 99mtc-sestamibi is a non-invasive and painless diagnostic imaging method where a variety of radiopharmaceuticals create planar and tomographic pictures as well as provide information on tumor cell viability and cellularity that is used to detect breast cancer when mammography is inconclusive [54]. In the presence of cancer tissue, the radiopharmaceutical accumulates in the breast, which may be seen clearly in the photographs [55]. It is the most widely used agent for this purpose because of the advantages of 99mTcsestamibi tagging and its great efficiency in detecting carcinomas [56].

#### *4.1.1 Image processing techniques*


*Digital Image Processing and Its Application for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Area DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100619*

