Verification of the Scalp Morphological Features of Chemotherapy-induced Hair Loss by Image Analysis

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to verify the morphological characteristics of the alopecic scalp.

Method: Texture analysis of alopecic scalps caused by anti-cancer drug treatment and scalps with hair of healthy subjects was performed using the gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). Two-hundred seventy images taken from alopecic scalps and 342 images taken from scalps with hair, set to 50 pixels, were used in the analysis.

Result: In comparison, the angular second moment (ASM) and inverse difference moment (IDM) values were significantly higher in alopecic scalps, while contrast (CON), correlation (COR), and entropy (ENT) values were significantly lower than in scalps with hair.

Discussion: The results of analysis and the visual inspection of the images revealed that sulci cutis and cristae cutis of alopecic scalps were indistinct, suggesting that the scalp texture changes may have occurred.

Conclusion: The findings suggest the possibility of verifying morphological features of scalps based on the presence or absence of hair loss by image analysis.