Quantitative analysis of sclerotherapy results by using digital photography and a computer program.
BACKGROUND
Despite different telangiectasia treatments in the lower limbs, there is no method standardization for results assessment, making comparison between the existing treatments conflicting.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the assessment carried out by a group of specialists with the assessment carried out by a computer program, according to clearance degree of telangiectasias during treatment by sclerotherapy.


METHODS
Nineteen patients (21 studied areas) with telangiectasias of thighs and popliteal fossa were assessed, with a mean age of 37.5 (21-59) years old, all female. The pre- and posttreatment photos were standardized as per distance, light exposure, and aperture time. The sclerotherapy sessions were performed with 75% glucose. The clearance degree of telangiectasias was judged by a group of six doctors and by a computer program that analyzed the initial and final photos. The results of such assessment were compared according to concordance and correlation.


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference between the assessments carried out by the specialists and the assessments carried out by the computer program according to the sclerotherapy results.


CONCLUSIONS
The assessment carried out by the computer program was equivalent to the assessment carried out by the specialists in the judgment of clearance degree of telangiectasias of the lower limbs.
Rocha
Eduardo Faccini
EF
Vascular Surgery Department, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. eduardofaccinirocha@uol.com.br
Filho
João Potério
JP
Lotufo
Roberto D E Alencar
RD
Flores
Franklin César
FC
Silva
Alexandre Gonçalves
AG
Coelho
Stela Isernhagen
SI
Rocha
Leonardo Marques
LM
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*