The Concept of an Artificial Neural Network for the Classification of Atheromous Plaques from Digitized Segmented Histological Images

This paper is dedicted to the concept of an artificial neural network (ANN) for the classification of atheromatous plaque based on digitized histological patterns of areas segmented by means of the Region Growing algorithm. For this purpose, a multi-layered feedforward ANN with supervised learning has been used to successfully classify the segmented areas accordingly. The first phase is focused to find an optimal method for image segmentation. The Region Growing algorithm allows us to separate continuously segmented regions. For each region, appropriate features are selected, which are put into the neural network. The goal of the ANN is to classify plaque patterns into four classes according to their features. The classes represent the following types of plaque: homogeneous, heterogeneous, calcified and that with a high ratio of fat.. Successful plaque classification will be a helpful tool for long-term clinical projects, e.g. investigation of plaque composition.