Can spectral-spatial image segmentation be used to discriminate experimental burn wounds?

Lukasz A Paluchowski,Asgeir Bjorgan,Håvard B Nordgaard,Lise L Randeberg,Håkon Hov,Sissel M Berget

doi:10.1117/1.jbo.21.10.101413

Abstract

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a noncontact and noninvasive optical modality emerging the field of medical research. The goal of this study was to determine the ability of HSI and image segmentation to discriminate burn wounds in a preclinical porcine model. A heated brass rod was used to introduce burn wounds of graded severity in a pig model and a sequence of hyperspectral data was recorded up to 8-h postinjury. The hyperspectral images were processed by an unsupervised spectral–spatial segmentation algorithm. Segmentation was validated using results from histology. The proposed algorithm was compared to K-means segmentation and was found superior. The obtained segmentation maps revealed separated zones within the burn sites, indicating a variation in burn severity. The suggested image-processing scheme allowed mapping dynamic changes of spectral properties within the burn wounds over time. The results of this study indicate that unsupervised spectral–spatial segmentation applied on hyperspectral images can discriminate burn injuries of varying severity.

Highlights

Clinical examination of burn severity and prediction of clinical outcome is a complex and difficult task even for an experienced burn surgeon
Several optical modalities have been tested for assessing burn severity, e.g., laser Doppler imaging (LDI), near-infrared spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, laser speckle imaging, spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI), photoacoustic microscopy, optical
In total 12 specimens were examined from a total of six burn sites

Summary

Introduction

Clinical examination of burn severity and prediction of clinical outcome is a complex and difficult task even for an experienced burn surgeon. A thorough review of both microscopic and macroscopic optical techniques showing potential in the field of burn wound evaluation has been published by Kaiser et al.[4] Conventional histologic analysis is still considered the gold standard in evaluation of burn depth, despite the new possibilities that come with a wide range of optical techniques. The technique has an invasive nature and comes with a significant risk of sampling error due to heterogeneity within the burn area, as only a limited number of biopsies can be collected. Several optical modalities have been tested for assessing burn severity, e.g., laser Doppler imaging (LDI), near-infrared spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, laser speckle imaging, spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI), photoacoustic microscopy, optical

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