Abstract

MIOT, Hélio Amante et al. Chronic ulcers of the lower limbs: area evaluation by digital photography. Rev. Assoc. Med. Bras. [online]. 2009, vol.55, n.2, pp. 145-148. ISSN 0104-4230.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-42302009000200016.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate results of digital imaging analysis in estimating the areas of chronic ulcers in the lower limbs. METHODS: In a prospective study the ulcer areas were estimated by the classic planimetric method, where ulcer perimeters are drawn on a transparent plastic film. Areas were then measured in millimetered paper. These values were considered as gold standards to evaluate standardized digital photographs of ulcers and of drawings for area estimation. A known length of adhesive was placed adjacent to ulcers to estimate the proportion of pixels relative to real millimeters. RESULTS: Forty two lesions from 20 patients with chronic lower limb ulcers were evaluated. Areas ranged from 0.24 to 101.65cm2. Planimetric measures strongly correlated with photos of the ulcers (R²=0.86 p<0.01), however, their correlation with digital photos of the ulcer drawings was even higher (R²=0.99 p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Standardized digital photography proved to be a quick, precise and non-invasive method to estimate ulcer areas. The evaluation of measurements from drawings of ulcer perimeters should be preferred to direct photographic analysis of the ulcers.

Keywords : Photography; Leg ulcer; Leg dermatoses; Image processing computer-assisted.