  The CALMA (Computer Assisted Library for MAmmography) project is a five years
plan developed in a physics research frame in collaboration between INFN
(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare) and many Italian hospitals. At present
a large database of digitized mammographic images (more than 6000) was
collected and a software based on neural network algorithms for the search of
suspicious breast lesions was developed. Two tools are available: a
microcalcification clusters hunter, based on supervised and unsupervised
feedforward neural network, and a massive lesions searcher, based on a hibrid
approach. Both the algorithms analyzed preprocessed digitized images by high
frequency filters. Clinical tests were performed to evaluate sensitivity and
specificity of the system, considering the system as alone and as secon reader.
Results show that the system is ready to be implemented by medical industry.
The CALMA project, just ended, has its natural development in the GPCALMA (Grid
Platform for CALMA) project, where distributed users join common resources
(images, tools, statistical analysis).
