Title
A methodology for automated CPA extraction using liver biopsy image analysis and machine learning techniques.
Abstract
Methodology for collagen proportional area extraction from liver biopsy images.Fully automated, machine-learning based image analysis.Robust methodology, without any threshold-based decisions.Processing low resolutions images without sophisticated equipment.Low processing time. Background and objectiveCollagen proportional area (CPA) extraction in liver biopsy images provides the degree of fibrosis expansion in liver tissue, which is the most characteristic histological alteration in hepatitis C virus (HCV). Assessment of the fibrotic tissue is currently based on semiquantitative staging scores such as Ishak and Metavir. Since its introduction as a fibrotic tissue assessment technique, CPA calculation based on image analysis techniques has proven to be more accurate than semiquantitative scores. However, CPA has yet to reach everyday clinical practice, since the lack of standardized and robust methods for computerized image analysis for CPA assessment have proven to be a major limitation. MethodsThe current work introduces a three-stage fully automated methodology for CPA extraction based on machine learning techniques. Specifically, clustering algorithms have been employed for background-tissue separation, as well as for fibrosis detection in liver tissue regions, in the first and the third stage of the methodology, respectively. Due to the existence of several types of tissue regions in the image (such as blood clots, muscle tissue, structural collagen, etc.), classification algorithms have been employed to identify liver tissue regions and exclude all other non-liver tissue regions from CPA computation. ResultsFor the evaluation of the methodology, 79 liver biopsy images have been employed, obtaining 1.31% mean absolute CPA error, with 0.923 concordance correlation coefficient. ConclusionsThe proposed methodology is designed to (i) avoid manual threshold-based and region selection processes, widely used in similar approaches presented in the literature, and (ii) minimize CPA calculation time.
Year
DOI
Venue
2017
10.1016/j.cmpb.2016.11.012
Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
Keywords
Field
DocType
Classification,Clustering,Collagen proportional area,Liver biopsy image analysis,Machine learning techniques
Fibrosis,Computer science,Liver biopsy,Concordance correlation coefficient,Clinical Practice,Region selection,Artificial intelligence,Cluster analysis,Statistical classification,Stage (cooking),Machine learning
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
140
C
0169-2607
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
2
0.67
1
Authors
8