Alternative Technique to Asymmetry Analysis-Based Overlapping for Foot Ulcer Examination: Scalable Scanning

TL;DR

This paper introduces a scalable scanning method as an alternative to traditional asymmetry analysis for detecting foot ulcers in thermal images, reducing false positives caused by shape and size differences.

Contribution

The proposed scalable scanning technique improves asymmetry analysis by effectively comparing foot images despite shape and size variations, reducing false abnormal area detection.

Findings

Fewer false positives compared to traditional overlapping

Effective in cases with shape and size differences

Validated with experimental results

Abstract

Asymmetry analysis based on the overlapping of thermal images proved able to detect inflammation and, predict foot ulceration. This technique involves three main steps: segmentation, geometric transformation, and overlapping. However, the overlapping technique, which consists of subtracting the intensity levels of the right foot from those of the left foot, can also detect false abnormal areas if the projections of the left and right feet are not the same. In this paper, we present an alternative technique to asymmetry analysis-based overlapping. The proposed technique, scalable scanning, allows for an effective comparison even if the shapes and sizes of the feet projections appear differently in the image. The tested results show that asymmetry analysis- based scalable scanning provides fewer false abnormal areas than does asymmetry analysis -based overlapping.