title: Quantitative analysis of sclerotherapy results by using digital photography and a computer program.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Department, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. eduardofaccinirocha@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Eduardo Faccini
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: João Potério
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: Roberto D E Alencar
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Lotufo
authors.forename: Franklin César
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Alexandre Gonçalves
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Stela Isernhagen
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Leonardo Marques
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: 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*