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Evaluation of a Content-Based Retrieval System for Blood Cell Images with Automated Methods

Journal of Medical Systems volume 35, pages 571–578 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Content-based image retrieval techniques have been extensively studied for the past few years. With the growth of digital medical image databases, the demand for content-based analysis and retrieval tools has been increasing remarkably. Blood cell image is a key diagnostic tool for hematologists. An automated system that can retrieved relevant blood cell images correctly and efficiently would save the effort and time of hematologists. The purpose of this work is to develop such a content-based image retrieval system. Global color histogram and wavelet-based methods are used in the prototype. The system allows users to search by providing a query image and select one of four implemented methods. The obtained results demonstrate the proposed extended query refinement has the potential to capture a user’s high level query and perception subjectivity by dynamically giving better query combinations. Color-based methods performed better than wavelet-based methods with regard to precision, recall rate and retrieval time. Shape and density of blood cells are suggested as measurements for future improvement. The system developed is useful for undergraduate education.

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Acknowledgment

We would like thanks Mr. Tan Jin Ann For implementing the prototype in a user friendly way. We would also like to express our appreciation to Ms. Mangalam Sankupellay and Hospital Kuala Lumpur for the initial idea and producing blood cell images.

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Affiliations

  1. Computer Science & Information Technology Faculty, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Woo Chaw Seng

  2. University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Seyed Hadi Mirisaee

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  1. Woo Chaw Seng
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  2. Seyed Hadi Mirisaee
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Correspondence to Seyed Hadi Mirisaee.

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Seng, W.C., Mirisaee, S.H. Evaluation of a Content-Based Retrieval System for Blood Cell Images with Automated Methods. J Med Syst 35, 571–578 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-009-9393-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-009-9393-3

Keywords

  • Content-based
  • Image retrieval
  • Blood cell
  • Texture
  • Color