Template Matching for Detection of Starry Milia-like Cysts in Dermoscopic Images

Viswanaath Subramanian1, Randy H. Moss1, Ryan K. Rader2, Sneha K. Mahajan1, William V. Stoecker1,2
1Dept.

of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, MO USA, & Associates, Rolla, MO USA

2Stoecker

Introduction
Milia-like cysts are small white or ivory round/oval structures seen on dermoscopy images, from a
device that emphasizes deep structures). MLCs are categorized into starry (< 1/3 mm diameter) and cloudy ( > 1/3 mm diameter). MLCs are often found in seborrheic keratosis (SK), the most common benign lesion. An example of both types of MLCs within an SK can be seen here. Starry MLCs (stars) have a sensitivity of 90.5% and specificity of 45.7% for seborrheic keratosis.1 MLCs, if detectable, can aid in distinguishing benign lesions from malignant lesions, such as melanoma. MLC mimicsscales, bubbles, and skin pores, must be removed to achieve automatic MLC detection. Figure 1: SK with MLCs

Analysis and Design

6. Star shape analysis
Shape features (e.g. area, perimeter, roundness, solidity, major and minor axis, eccentricity, and major axis/equivalent diameter) and the second correlation coefficient between the candidate star and the ideal star template are then calculated.

SAS Logistic Regression Results

Parameter Star size First correlation coefficient with ideal star template Intensity difference between star and surround Mean of 11x11 star center Rise time of 11x11 star center Correlation coefficient to the star shape template Equalized correlation coefficient Chi-square 24.69 29.17 25.60 8.68 30.83 11.19 29.24 Pr > Chi-sq <.0001 <.0001 <.0001 0.0032 <.0001 0.0008 <.0001

7. Notes on methods. Region of Figure 3: Formation of shape of the star for a true starry interest (ROI): star MLC candidate MLC. (a) Original image Seborrheic Keratosis. (b)
Block size 13x13 optimized: size computational efficiency, size loss from dupl. MLCs Lesion size determined by correlation with 3 templates: 11x11, 17x17, 23x23 3 thresholds needed to false positives: lesion mean threshold, duplicate removal, and range threshold Star shape determined after 3x3 average filter smoothing: area pixels with intensity within 10% of smoothed object intensity

Methods
1. Pre-processing Lesion borders were manually drawn, bubble and hairs were removed 2. Lesion divided into 13x13 blocks
Lesion area was segmented into 13x13 blocks. The brightest pixel in each block was chosen as the center of a candidate starry MLC (star). Stars can vary in size, therefore only the 11x11 center of stars were analyzed to allow for a measure of consistency (Figure 2). Lesion borders drawn, hairs and bubbles removed Lesion divided into 13x13 blocks Candidate star selection: 0.85* (Lesion mean intensity) 1st Correlation coefficient: star templates Threshold from star center intensity range Candidate star shape analysis 2nd Correlation coefficient: shape templates Logistic regression analysis

Lesion and bubble masks applied on blue plane. (c) Enlarged version of a starry MLC. (d) Histogram equalized starry MLC. (e) Enlarged version of smoothed starry MLC. (f) Initial shape of the star. (g) Thinned one pixel width shape of the star. (h) Final filled shape of the star shifted to the center.

Results and Conclusions

Multiple template correlations are needed to optimally characterize fine structures 3 correlations used unprocessed ROIs, shape-limited ROIs, and histogram-equalized ROIs. A template-matching method gives a useful, quantized, size determination For ROIs with ill-defined borders, shape can be determined based on central ROI statistics Central statistics are also key in MLC versus mimic decision Starry MLCs can be distinguished from close mimics with acceptable accuracy Fine ROI features and ROI neighborhoods are important in medical imaging.

3. Candidate stars selection

A 3x3 mean filter was applied to reduce image noise. The mean of the lesion intensity was calculated. Candidate stars were removed if they did not exceed the threshold: 0.85*(lesion mean intensity).

4. Correlation coefficientTemplate matching Correlation (x,y) with star templates created by characterizing pre-selected example starry MLCs: , , (,)- , +,+ , = 2 2 1/2
* , , (,) ,

+,+ - +

where x = 0, 1, 2, 3 . . ., M-1, y = 0, 1, 2 . . ., N-1, MxN is the size of f, is the mean value of pixels in w and is the mean value of the region that is coincident with the current location of w.2 The correlation coefficient was scaled to between -1 to 1, with 1 having the strongest correlation. Starry MLCs can vary in size, therefore three differently sized templates were used: 11x11, 17x17, and 23x23.
5. Application of Range as a threshold All starry MLCs have a bright center pixel and radially decreasing intensity. Therefore, we used the Range of the maximum and minimum pixel intensity values within the 11x11 center. Those that met the threshold: 0.14, 0.075, and 0.03 (scaled to between 0 and 1), respectively, continued for further processing.

Figure 5: ROC for MLC detection--SK vs. melanoma.

References
1. Stricklin, S.M., Stoecker, W.V., ..& Mahajan, S.K. (2011). Cloudy and starry milia-like cysts: How well do they distinguish seborrheic keratoses from malignant melanoma J European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 25(10), 1222-4. 2. Gonzalez, R.C. & Woods, R.E. (2002). Digital Image Processing. 2nd ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, pp. 698-704.

Figure 2: Starry MLC ROI detail, red circle: central pixel, black rim: 11x11 region for range determination

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering