Method for discriminating between malignant and benign tissue lesions

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention includes a method for discriminating between benign and malignant tissue lesions. The method includes the steps of using a plurality of maps of physiology and morphology parameters generated from reflectance measurements and pure morphology parameters generated from reflectance measurements. The method also includes calculating entropies and cross entropies of the plurality of maps, and calculating a plurality of pure morphology parameters. Further, the method includes assigning a weight to each entropy and a weight to a logarithm of each entropy, a weight to each cross entropy and a weight to a logarithm of each cross entropy, and a weight to each pure morphology parameter and a weight to a logarithm of each pure morphoiogy parameter. The method further includes computing a diagnostic index, defining a cost function, defining a proper threshold value for a diagnostic index and solving an optimization problem to determine a set of weights from the assigned weights to maximize specificity for 100% sensitivity. Further, the method uses calculations, the cost function and the diagnostic index to determine whether the tissue lesion is benign or malignant.

1 . A method for discriminating between benign and malignant tissue lesions, the method comprising the steps of:
 using a plurality of maps of physiology and morphology parameters generated from reflectance measurements;   using a plurality of pure morphology parameters generated from reflectance measurements;   calculating entropies and cross entropies of said plurality of maps;   calculating a plurality of pure morphology parameters;   assigning a weight to each said entropy and a weight to a logarithm of each said entropy;   assigning a weight to each said cross entropy and a weight to a logarithm of each said cross entropy;   assigning a weight to each said pure morphology parameter and a weight to a logarithm of each said pure morphology parameter;   computing a diagnostic index;   defining a cost function;   defining a proper threshold value for a diagnostic index;   solving an optimization problem to determine a set of weights from said assigned weights to maximize specificity for 100% sensitivity; and   using calculations, said cost function and the diagnostic index to determine whether said tissue lesion is benign or malignant.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic index is computed by using said entropies, cross entropies, said pure morphology parameters and said plurality of logarithms. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cost function includes a master term with pathology information from a plurality of investigated lesions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proper threshold value for said diagnostic index is used to differentiate between benign and malignant tissue lesions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to discriminate between benign pigmented lesions and malignant melanoma. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to discriminate between benign tissue and basal cell carcinoma. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to discriminate between benign tissue and squamous cell carcinoma. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used for beauty care. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used for forensic medicine. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to monitor efficacies of different kinds of treatment.