Open AccessComputer‐aided analysis with Image J for quantitatively assessing psoriatic lesion area
Author(s) -
Sun Z.,
Wang Y.,
Ji S.,
Wang K.,
Zhao Y.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
skin research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.521
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1600-0846
pISSN - 0909-752X
DOI - 10.1111/srt.12211
Subject(s) - psoriasis , medicine , body surface area , dermatology , reliability (semiconductor) , clinical trial , placebo , artificial intelligence , computer science , surgery , pathology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , alternative medicine
Background/aims Body surface area is important in determining the severity of psoriasis. However, objective, reliable, and practical method is still in need for this purpose. We performed a computer image analysis ( CIA ) of psoriatic area using the image J freeware to determine whether this method could be used for objective evaluation of psoriatic area. Methods Fifteen psoriasis patients were randomized to be treated with adalimumab or placebo in a clinical trial. At each visit, the psoriasis area of each body site was estimated by two physicians (E‐method), and standard photographs were taken. The psoriasis area in the pictures was assessed with CIA using semi‐automatic threshold selection (T‐method), or manual selection (M‐method, gold standard). The results assessed by the three methods were analyzed with reliability and affecting factors evaluated. Results Both T‐ and E‐method correlated strongly with M‐method, and T‐method had a slightly stronger correlation with M‐method. Both T‐ and E‐methods had a good consistency between the evaluators. All the three methods were able to detect the change in the psoriatic area after treatment, while the E‐method tends to overestimate. Conclusion The CIA with image J freeware is reliable and practicable in quantitatively assessing the lesional of psoriasis area.