title: Using a multi-agent system approach for microaneurysm detection in fundus images.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microaneurysms represent the first sign of diabetic retinopathy, and their detection is fundamental for the prevention of vision impairment. Despite several research attempts to develop an automated system to detect microaneurysms in fundus images, none has shown the level of performance required for clinical practice. We propose a new approach, based on a multi-agent system model, for microaneurysm segmentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-agent based approach, preceded by a preprocessing phase to allow construction of the environment in which agents are situated and interact, is presented. The proposed method is applied to two available online datasets and results are compared to other previously described approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microaneurysm segmentation emerges from agent interaction. The final score of the proposed approach was 0.240 in the Retinopathy Online Challenge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We achieved competitive results, primarily in detecting microaneurysms close to vessels, compared to more conventional algorithms. Despite these results not being optimum, they are encouraging and reveal that some improvements may be made.
authors.affiliation: Centro Algoritmi, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal. Electronic address: id2723@alunos.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Centro Algoritmi, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal; ENERMETER, Parque Industrial Celeirós 2ªFase, Lugar de Gaião - Lotes 5/6, 4705-025 Aveleda, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.affiliation: CReSTIC - MODECO, University of Reims, Rue des Crayères, 51100 Reims, France.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mahdjoub
authors.affiliation: CReSTIC - MODECO, University of Reims, Rue des Crayères, 51100 Reims, France.
authors.forename: Zahia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guessoum
authors.affiliation: Oftalmocenter, Rua Francisco Ribeiro de Castro, n° 205, Azurém, 4800-045 Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Centro Algoritmi, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal; ENERMETER, Parque Industrial Celeirós 2ªFase, Lugar de Gaião - Lotes 5/6, 4705-025 Aveleda, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Centro Algoritmi, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012160:Retina
keywords: Color fundus images; Diabetic retinopathy; Image processing; Microaneurysm; Multi-agent system