Local characterization of neovascularization and identification of proliferative diabetic retinopathy in retinal fundus images

Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive disease, with various signs indicating different stages. The advanced, sight-threatening stage of DR is termed as proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The onset of PDR is characterized by neovascularization, identifiable on the retinal image as a tangle of abnormal new vessels which are thin, weak, exhibit irregular appearance, do not bifurcate like normal vessels, and appear to form frond-like tortuous patterns and florid loops. Neovascularization (NV) can rapidly progress to bleeding, fibrous proliferation, vitreous haemorrhage and retinal detachment, culminating in blindness.
Source: Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics - Category: Radiology Authors: Source Type: research