Quantification of early cutaneous manifestations of chronic venous insufficiency by automated analysis of photographic images: Feasibility and technical considerations

• Published in: Phlebology Vol. 33; no. 5; p. 309
• Main Authors: Becker, François, Fourgeau, Patrice, Carpentier, Patrick H, Ouchène, Amina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.2018
• Subjects: Algorithms; Ankle; Chronic Disease; Diagnostic Imaging; European Continental Ancestry Group; Foot; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Observer Variation; Photography; Pigmentation; Reproducibility of Results; Severity of Illness Index; Telangiectasis - diagnostic imaging; Telangiectasis - physiopathology; Varicose Veins - diagnostic imaging; Varicose Veins - physiopathology; Venous Insufficiency - diagnostic imaging; Venous Insufficiency - physiopathology; clinimetry; corona phlebectatica paraplantaris; ankle flare; Chronic venous insufficiency; digital image analysis
• ISSN: 1758-1125
• DOI: 10.1177/0268355517703840

We postulate that blue telangiectasia and brownish pigmentation at ankle level, early markers of chronic venous insufficiency, can be quantified for longitudinal studies of chronic venous disease in Caucasian people. Objectives and methods To describe a photographic technique specially developed for this purpose. The pictures were acquired using a dedicated photo stand to position the foot in a reproducible way, with a normalized lighting and acquisition protocol. The image analysis was performed with a tool developed using algorithms optimized to detect and quantify blue telangiectasia and brownish pigmentation and their relative surface in the region of interest. To test the short-term reproducibility of the measures. Results The quantification of the blue telangiectasia and of the brownish pigmentation using an automated digital photo analysis is feasible. The short-term reproducibility is good for blue telangiectasia quantification. It is a less accurate for the brownish pigmentation. Conclusion The blue telangiectasia of the corona phlebectatica and the ankle flare can be assessed using a clinimetric approach based on the automated digital photo analysis.