Abstract: In this paper we present an intelligent scheme, employing a combination of fuzzy logic, pulse coupled neural networks (PCNNs), wavelets and rough sets, for analysing prostrate ultrasound images in order diagnose prostate cancer. Image noise is a principal factor which hampers the visual quality of ultrasound images and can therefore lead to misdiagnosis. To address this issue we first utilise an algorithm based on type-II fuzzy sets to enhance the contrast of the image. This is followed by performing PCNN-based segmentation in order to identify the region of interest and to detect the boundary of the prostate pattern. Then, a wavelet features are extracted and normalised, followed by application of a rough set analysis to discover the dependency between the attributes, and to generate a set of reducts consisting of a minimal number of attributes. Finally, a rough set classifier is designed for discrimination of different regions of interest to determine whether they represent cancer or not. To evaluate the performance of our approach, we present tests on different prostate ultrasound images. The experimental results obtained, show that the overall classification accuracy offered by the employed rough set approach is high compared with other intelligent techniques including decision trees, discriminant analysis, rough neural networks, fuzzy ARTMAP, and neural networks.
