1. Automating Scoliosis Analysis
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
By Amar Sahai

2. Purpose Scoliosis = curvature of the spine
Current analyses are either expensive or manual and time-consuming
Try to automate this
Saves time, effort and money

3. Scope of Study Automating scoliosis detection and angle of curvature
Help pinpoint places on spine to apply pressure to most effectively deal with curve
Simpler and cheaper than other solutions

4. Similar Studies
Detection and Measurement of Hilar Region in Chest Radiograph – Australia, 2003
Automatic Computer Recognition and Analysis of Dental X-ray Film – New York, 1970

5. Procedures and Methodology – Phase 1
Coded in Java and C
Requires x-ray images as input
Converts inputted images to .pgm image format
Uses edge detection to get a clean outline of the spine
Darkens image to reduce noise

6. Procedures and Methodology – Phase 2
Convert .pgm file output from Phase 1 to a .gif
Input .gif into new Java program that allows user input
Program displays .gif as background
Program accepts mouse as input device
Left click draws point at clicked location
Program draws a line between every other point and calculates the acute angle from the vertical

7. Procedures and Methodology – Phase 2 (cont.)
Right-click toggles auto-detect mode
Left click in this mode draws a point at the brightest spot within a 10 pixel radius
Program draws a line between every other point and calculates the acute angle from the vertical
Points and lines are color coded
Points: red in normal, green in auto-detect
Lines: blue in normal, green in auto-detect

8. Edge Detection Current algorithm is fairly primitive
Checks for the brightest point
Change to check for greatest contrast
Use differencing or Robert’s cross method

9. Roadblocks File conversion must be done in another program
Must erase ribcage in order to detect points to apply pressure
Need to add buttons to add more features without making

10. Current Results
My edge detection does not work sufficiently well for actual use
Must eradicate extraneous parts of image (ribcage, pelvis)‏
User interface phase works in manual and semi-automatic modes

11. Screenshots

12. Screenshots (cont.)