Extraction and processing of videocapsule data to detect and measure the presence of villous atrophy in celiac disease patients.
Videocapsule endoscopy is a relative new method to analyze the gastrointestinal tract for the presence of pathologic features. It is of relevance to detect villous atrophy in the small bowel, which is a defining symptom of celiac disease.



In this tutorial, methods to extract and process videocapsule endoscopy data are elucidated. The algorithms, computer code, and paradigms to analyze image series are described in detail. The topics covered include extraction of data, analysis of texture, eigenanalysis, spectral analysis, three-dimensional projection, and estimation of motility. The basic paradigms to implement these processes are provided.



Examples of successful quantitative analysis implementations for selected untreated celiac disease patients with villous atrophy versus control patients with normal villi were illustrated. Based on the implementations, it was evident that celiac patients tended to have a rougher small intestinal texture as compared with control patients. From three-dimensional projection, celiac patients exhibited larger surface protrusions emanating from the small intestinal mucosa, which may represent clumps of atrophied villi. The periodicity of small intestinal contractions tends to be slower when villous atrophy is present, and the estimated degree of motility is reduced as compared with control image series. Basis image construction suggested that fissuring and mottling of the mucosal surface is predominant in untreated celiac patients, and mostly absent in controls.



Implementation of computerized methods, as described in this tutorial, will likely be useful for the automated detection and measurement of villous atrophy, and to map its extent along the small intestine of celiac patients.
Celiac Disease Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, United States. Electronic address: ejc6@columbia.edu.
Edward J
EJ
Ciaccio
Celiac Disease Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, United States; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, United States.
Govind
G
Bhagat
Celiac Disease Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, United States.
Suzanne K
SK
Lewis
Celiac Disease Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, United States.
Peter H
PH
Green
D001284:Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
Celiac disease; Images; Small intestine; Tutorial; Videocapsule; Villous atrophy