The correlation analysis of the shape parameters for endothelial image characterisation

Abstract

Microscopic images of corneal endothelium cells are investigated to deliver information about their medical state. Although this could be achieved automatically, this examination is manual and very time consuming. Two medical parameters for endothelial layer quality description have been introduced and more are planned. Yet, since they will exploit image processing, a thoughtful overview of applicable existing shape parameters is necessary. This work investigates the possibility of exploiting well-known image processing techniques for describing the endothelial layer by calculating information about shape features using spatial moments or topological attributes. The comparison concentrates on finding which shape measures could be combined to improve descriptions, and which cannot due to their high correlation and the fact that they do not contain any new information. The performed experiments revealed a set of 17 non-correlated features and four groups of shape parameters that show some correlation, but one representative can always be selected. Moreover, the investigation proved some correlation between the metrics used in medicine and considered shape features.