Analyse de texture du tissu osseux - Approche fractale -

Abstract

The diagnostic interpretation of medical images is a complex task aiming to detect potential abnormalities. One of the most used features in this process is texture which is a key component in the human understanding of images. Many studies were conducted to develop algorithms for texture quantification. The relevance of fractal geometry in medical image analysis is justified by the proven self-similarity of anatomical objects when imaged with a finite resolution. Over the last years, fractal geometry was applied extensively in many medical signal analysis applications. The use of these geometries relies heavily on estimation of the fractal features. Various methods were proposed to estimate the fractal dimension. This article presents an overview of these algorithms, the way they work, their benefits and limits, and the ability to differentiate osteoporosic groups from control groups. Their clinical potential appears very promising.