Patent ID: 7577298

Claim:
A method for estimating regions comprising the steps of: a processor detecting potential candidates identified in a response image created from a three-dimensional medical image of an object and using such regions to generate features for candidate discrimination, sampling voxels surrounding a detection center of the potential candidate region by performing the following steps: i). identifying the detection center for the potential candidate region; ii) measuring a response value for the potential candidate region; iii). casting rays spherically outward from the detection center of the potential candidate region, the casted rays extending until each casted ray reaches a point where the response value is a fraction of its original value; iv). measuring the lengths of the casted rays; and v). using the rays to define the potential candidate region associated with the detection center; determining which of the sampled voxels comprise the potential candidate region; collecting features that characterize the potential candidate region; calculating an eccentricity measurement by performing the following steps: i). projecting rays from the detection center; ii). determining a stopping point for each projected ray; iii). identifying a ray having a maximal radius; iv). calculating the average radius; v). calculating an eccentricity measurement by comparing the maximal radius to the average radius of the detection center; and analyzing the features to automatically determine the likelihood of an abnormality being present in the potential candidate region.