Epiluminescence Image Processing for Melanocytic Skin Lesion Diagnosis Based on 7-Point Check-List: A Preliminary Discussion on Three Parameters

Abstract

Epiluminescence microscopy (ELM) is a non-invasive technique used to enhance visualization of microscopic structures of pigmented lesions for the early detection of melanoma. The 7-point check-list is a diagnostic method that requires the identification of only seven dermoscopic criteria, defining the image through the use of algorithms. This paper describes an experimental automated diagnosis set-up of melanocytic skin lesions through an image processing methodology focused on finding the presence of different epiluminescence parameters. In this paper the image processing set-up allows the automatic detection of some specific dermoscopic criteria. We analyze the blue whitish veil, the regression, and the irregular streaks. The procedure developed was tested by considering a set of about 200 ELM images. A good concordance between ELM 7-point checklist parameters detected and the new method of image processing was achieved by kappa analysis. Although ELM doesn’t substitute histological evaluation, it could be a reliable instrument to enhance clinical accuracy of skin pigmented lesions diagnosis.