Computer-aided analysis of fluorescein angiograms using colour leakage maps

Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) is a standard screening and diagnosis technique for several retinal diseases. The analysis of FFA images is performed qualitatively by skilled observers, and thus is vulnerable to inter- and intra-observer variability. In this study, the authors present a method for computer-aided analysis of FFA images. The method is based on generating quantitative colour fluorescein leakage maps (FLM) that mimic the thickness maps generated by the optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results from 64 patients show strong correlation between the FLM and OCT thickness maps (r = 0.8). The method was found to be reproducible and robust to variability in the image acquisition times.