title: WM-DOVA maps for accurate polyp highlighting in colonoscopy: Validation vs. saliency maps from physicians.
abstract: We introduce in this paper a novel polyp localization method for colonoscopy videos. Our method is based on a model of appearance for polyps which defines polyp boundaries in terms of valley information. We propose the integration of valley information in a robust way fostering complete, concave and continuous boundaries typically associated to polyps. This integration is done by using a window of radial sectors which accumulate valley information to create WM-DOVA (Window Median Depth of Valleys Accumulation) energy maps related with the likelihood of polyp presence. We perform a double validation of our maps, which include the introduction of two new databases, including the first, up to our knowledge, fully annotated database with clinical metadata associated. First we assess that the highest value corresponds with the location of the polyp in the image. Second, we show that WM-DOVA energy maps can be comparable with saliency maps obtained from physicians' fixations obtained via an eye-tracker. Finally, we prove that our method outperforms state-of-the-art computational saliency results. Our method shows good performance, particularly for small polyps which are reported to be the main sources of polyp miss-rate, which indicates the potential applicability of our method in clinical practice.
authors: Computer Science, Department of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Computer, Vision Center, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: jbernal@cvc.uab.es.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Bernal
authors: Computer Science, Department of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Computer, Vision Center, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: F Javier
authors: FJ
authors: Sánchez
authors: Endoscopy Unit, Gastroenterology Service, CIBERHED, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Fernández-Esparrach
authors: Computer Science, Department of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Computer, Vision Center, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Debora
authors: D
authors: Gil
authors: Endoscopy Unit, Gastroenterology Service, CIBERHED, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Rodríguez
authors: Computer Science, Department of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Computer, Vision Center, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Vilariño
mesh_terms: D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Colonoscopy; Energy maps; Polyp localization; Saliency; Valley detection