title: Computer-aided analysis with Image J for quantitatively assessing psoriatic lesion area.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Body surface area is important in determining the severity of psoriasis. However, objective, reliable, and practical method is still in need for this purpose. We performed a computer image analysis (CIA) of psoriatic area using the image J freeware to determine whether this method could be used for objective evaluation of psoriatic area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen psoriasis patients were randomized to be treated with adalimumab or placebo in a clinical trial. At each visit, the psoriasis area of each body site was estimated by two physicians (E-method), and standard photographs were taken. The psoriasis area in the pictures was assessed with CIA using semi-automatic threshold selection (T-method), or manual selection (M-method, gold standard). The results assessed by the three methods were analyzed with reliability and affecting factors evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both T- and E-method correlated strongly with M-method, and T-method had a slightly stronger correlation with M-method. Both T- and E-methods had a good consistency between the evaluators. All the three methods were able to detect the change in the psoriatic area after treatment, while the E-method tends to overestimate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CIA with image J freeware is reliable and practicable in quantitatively assessing the lesional of psoriasis area.
authors: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ji
authors: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012984:Software; D012986:Software Validation
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000068879:Adalimumab
keywords: body surface area; image J; psoriasis