Color analysis of the reconstructed complex nipple-areola after a mastectomy

Abstract

In this paper a colour analysis of the reconstructed NAC (nipple-areola complex) after a mastectomy is performed. First, a colour segmentation algorithm based on the Live Wire method is proposed to separate the NAC from the rest of skin. And then the colour differences between the healthy and the reconstructed NAC are measured using colour-difference formulas recommended in CIE: CIELAB, CIE94 and CIEDE2000. The application domain is analyzing how the NAC is modified after applying a new reconstructed technique of areola-nipple complex, grafted after its cryopreservation. The analysis has been performed for 20 images, and good segmentation results have been obtained and quantitative colour difference in accordance with perceptual colour difference has been obtained.