Karl Franzens University Graz | Graz University of Technology | |
Fractal Analysis and Nonlinear Methods in Medicine Medical radiology as well as digital pathology produce digital images up to very high resolutions. The number of images taken in clinics as well as pre-clinics is steadily increasing, but nevertheless, there is a lack of quantitative or mathematical methods to circumvent subjective misinterpretations. The theory of fractals and Non-Euclidean geometry is well suited to describe relative complex spatial patterns of cells, cell nuclei or tissues. In medicine and more generally in nature, fractals do not appear as exact mathematical fractals and therefore, a statistical approach is essential. Several methods exist and can be applied in order to calculate estimations of fractal dimensions. Actual values are well suited to distinguish between distinct grades of pathology, e.g. grades of pre-cancerous malformations of cell nuclei shapes. |