Computational methods for the image segmentation of pigmented skin lesions: A review.
OBJECTIVE
Because skin cancer affects millions of people worldwide, computational methods for the segmentation of pigmented skin lesions in images have been developed in order to assist dermatologists in their diagnosis. This paper aims to present a review of the current methods, and outline a comparative analysis with regards to several of the fundamental steps of image processing, such as image acquisition, pre-processing and segmentation.


METHODS
Techniques that have been proposed to achieve these tasks were identified and reviewed. As to the image segmentation task, the techniques were classified according to their principle.


RESULTS
The techniques employed in each step are explained, and their strengths and weaknesses are identified. In addition, several of the reviewed techniques are applied to macroscopic and dermoscopy images in order to exemplify their results.


CONCLUSIONS
The image segmentation of skin lesions has been addressed successfully in many studies; however, there is a demand for new methodologies in order to improve the efficiency.
Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial, Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Roberta B
RB
Oliveira
Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial, Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Mercedes E
ME
Filho
Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial, Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Zhen
Z
Ma
Departamento de Computação, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, av. Eng. Luiz Edmundo Carrijo Coube, 14-01, 17033-360 Bauru, SP, Brazil.
João P
JP
Papa
Departamento de Ciências de Computação e Estatística, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
Aledir S
AS
Pereira
Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial, Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: tavares@fe.up.pt.
João Manuel R S
JM
Tavares
D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology*
Image acquisition; Image pre-processing; Image segmentation; Pigmented skin lesion images