Breast density classification in mammograms: An investigation of encoding techniques in binary-based local patterns

Abstract

We investigate various channel encoding techniques applied to breast density classification in mammograms; specifically, local binary, ternary, and quinary encoding approaches are considered. Subsequently, we propose a new encoding approach based on a seven-encoding technique, yielding a new local pattern operator called a local septenary pattern operator. Experimental results suggest that the proposed local pattern operator is robust and outperforms the other encoding techniques when evaluated on the Mammographic Image Analysis Society (MIAS) and InBreast datasets. The local septenary pattern operator achieved a maximum classification accuracy of 83.3% and 80.5% on the MIAS and InBreast datasets, respectively. The closest comparison achieved by the other local pattern operators is the local quinary operator, with maximum accuracies of 82.1% (MIAS) and 80.1% (InBreast), respectively.

Keywords: Breast density; Breast mammography; Local binary patterns; Local quinary patterns; Local septenary patterns; Local ternary patterns.