METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTION OF THYROID NODULES

摘要

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting a thyroid nodule with high accuracy by using ultrasound images, previous biopsy results, etc. The apparatus receives values of multiple factors from the ultrasound images automatically or manually and provides a more accurate and universal result by taking advantage of the previous biopsy results. The apparatus includes: an image extracting unit configured to extract the ultrasound image; an image analyzing unit configured to detect the thyroid nodule in the ultrasound image and to operate values of multiple factors of the thyroid nodule; a risk computing unit configured to retrieve a medical record from a database, to compute a degree of risk by a predetermined method using the values of the multiple factors and the medical record, and to determine whether the thyroid nodule is a predetermined shaped nodule if the computed degree of risk is above a preset reference; a diagnosis information operating unit configured to determine whether the diameter of the nodule exceeds 1cm; and an output unit configured to output a biopsy if the diameter of the nodule is above 1cm and output an observation if the diameter of the nodule is smaller than or equal to 1cm.