TY - JOUR

T1 - Regression and classification methods for nasolabial folds

T2 - A possible paradigm for computer-aided diagnosis of skin diseases

AU - Lluncor, David E.

AU - Belongie, Serge

AU - Rullan, Peter

AU - Morhenn, Vera

PY - 2014/1

Y1 - 2014/1

N2 - Classification of facial features, for example, nasolabial folds, still relies mainly on clinical assessment, resulting in significant costs because of high intra- and interrater variability. Further, diagnosing skin diseases, for example, malignant melanoma, also can present challenges. In an attempt to reduce cost of medical care in future, we determined the utility of methods in image processing and statistical analysis to automatically quantify, for example, the structure of nasolabial folds. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the application of computer technology to grading of nasolabial folds. When classifying severity of wrinkles on a scale of 1-5, the computer achieved an accuracy of 87% compared to the dermatologist, taken as the gold standard. Further, the computer program's capacity to sort the order of wrinkles from least to most wrinkled was 98% as accurate as the clinician(s). We conclude that by using computer technology, nasolabial folds can be categorized almost as accurately as by using grading by dermatologists, suggesting that computer technology may be a useful tool to grade nasolabial folds because a computer is always consistent. We hypothesize that, after additional studies, this technology also may be a useful tool to aid in diagnosing skin diseases.

AB - Classification of facial features, for example, nasolabial folds, still relies mainly on clinical assessment, resulting in significant costs because of high intra- and interrater variability. Further, diagnosing skin diseases, for example, malignant melanoma, also can present challenges. In an attempt to reduce cost of medical care in future, we determined the utility of methods in image processing and statistical analysis to automatically quantify, for example, the structure of nasolabial folds. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the application of computer technology to grading of nasolabial folds. When classifying severity of wrinkles on a scale of 1-5, the computer achieved an accuracy of 87% compared to the dermatologist, taken as the gold standard. Further, the computer program's capacity to sort the order of wrinkles from least to most wrinkled was 98% as accurate as the clinician(s). We conclude that by using computer technology, nasolabial folds can be categorized almost as accurately as by using grading by dermatologists, suggesting that computer technology may be a useful tool to grade nasolabial folds because a computer is always consistent. We hypothesize that, after additional studies, this technology also may be a useful tool to aid in diagnosing skin diseases.

KW - computer assisted

KW - computing methodologies

KW - diagnosis

KW - image processing

KW - information science

KW - investigative techniques

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84892810448&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/1346-8138.12297

DO - 10.1111/1346-8138.12297

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24354417

AN - SCOPUS:84892810448

VL - 41

SP - 92

EP - 97

JO - Journal of Dermatology

JF - Journal of Dermatology

SN - 0385-2407

IS - 1

ER -