Concentric Decile Segmentation of White and Hypopigmented Areas in Dermoscopy Images of Skin Lesions Allows Discrimination of Malignant Melanoma

Author

Ankur Dalal
Randy Hays Moss, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
R. Joe Stanley, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
William V. Stoecker, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
Kapil Kumar Gupta
David A. Calcara
Jin Xu
Bijaya Shrestha, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
Rhett J. Drugge
Joseph M. Malters
Lindall A. Perry

Abstract

Dermoscopy, also known as dermatoscopy or epiluminescence microscopy (ELM), permits visualization of features of pigmented melanocytic neoplasms that are not discernable by examination with the naked eye. White areas, prominent in early malignant melanoma and melanoma in situ, contribute to early detection of these lesions. An adaptive detection method has been investigated to identify white and hypopigmented areas based on lesion histogram statistics. Using the Euclidean distance transform, the lesion is segmented in concentric deciles. Overlays of the white areas on the lesion deciles are determined. Calculated features of automatically detected white areas include lesion decile ratios, normalized number of white areas, absolute and relative size of largest white area, relative size of all white areas, and white area eccentricity, dispersion, and irregularity. Using a back-propagation neural network, the white area statistics yield over 95% diagnostic accuracy of melanomas from benign nevi. White and hypopigmented areas in melanomas tend to be central or paracentral. The four most powerful features on multivariate analysis are lesion decile ratios. Automatic detection of white and hypopigmented areas in melanoma can be accomplished using lesion statistics. A neural network can achieve good discrimination of melanomas from benign nevi using these areas. Lesion decile ratios are useful white area features.

Recommended Citation

A. Dalal and R. H. Moss and R. J. Stanley and W. V. Stoecker and K. K. Gupta and D. A. Calcara and J. Xu and B. Shrestha and R. J. Drugge and J. M. Malters and L. A. Perry, "Concentric Decile Segmentation of White and Hypopigmented Areas in Dermoscopy Images of Skin Lesions Allows Discrimination of Malignant Melanoma," Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 148 - 154, Elsevier, Mar 2011.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compmedimag.2010.09.009

Department(s)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Second Department

Chemistry

Keywords and Phrases

Dermoscopy; Dysplastic nevi; Melanoma; Regression; White area; Dermatology; Image analysis; Image segmentation; Multivariant analysis; Oncology; Visualization; Neural networks; artificial neural network; back propagation; cancer diagnosis; diagnostic accuracy; dispersion; epiluminescence microscopy; image quality; priority journal; Algorithms; Dermoscopy; Humans; Image Enhancement; Image Interpretation; Computer-Assisted; Luminescent Measurements; Pattern Recognition; Automated; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Skin Neoplasms

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0895-6111

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2011 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Mar 2011