title: Skin image retrieval using Gabor wavelet texture feature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Skin imaging plays a key role in many clinical studies. We have used many skin imaging techniques, including the recently developed capacitive contact skin imaging based on fingerprint sensors. The aim of this study was to develop an effective skin image retrieval technique using Gabor wavelet transform, which can be used on different types of skin images, but with a special focus on skin capacitive contact images.
  
  
  METHODS
  Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) is a useful technology to retrieve stored images from database by supplying query images. In a typical CBIR, images are retrieved based on colour, shape, texture, etc. In this study, texture feature is used for retrieving skin images, and Gabor wavelet transform is used for texture feature description and extraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that the Gabor wavelet texture features can work efficiently on different types of skin images. Although Gabor wavelet transform is slower compared with other image retrieval techniques, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), Gabor wavelet transform is the best for retrieving skin capacitive contact images and facial images with different orientations. Gabor wavelet transform can also work well on facial images with different expressions and skin cancer/disease images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have developed an effective skin image retrieval method based on Gabor wavelet transform, that it is useful for retrieving different types of images, namely digital colour face images, digital colour skin cancer and skin disease images, and particularly greyscale skin capacitive contact images. Gabor wavelet transform can also be potentially useful for face recognition (with different orientation and expressions) and skin cancer/disease diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: College of Communication Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, UK.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, UK.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D005145:Face; D006801:Humans; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012867:Skin; D058067:Wavelet Analysis
keywords: Gabor wavelet transform; content-based image retrieval; skin capacitive images; skin imaging; texture features