Rib Suppression for Enhancing Frontal Chest Radiographs Using Independent Component Analysis

Chest radiographs play an important role in the diagnosis of lung cancer. Detection of pulmonary nodules in chest radiographs forms the basis of early detection. Due to its sparse bone structure and overlapping of the nodule with ribs and clavicles the nodule is hard to detect in conventional chest radiographs. We present a technique based on Independent Component Analysis (ICA) for the suppression of posterior ribs and clavicles which will enhance the visibility of the nodule and aid the radiologist in the diagnosis process.