Overview of Image Processing Technology in Healthcare Systems

Identification of any particular risk factor for a specific disease and/or disorder using various image-based analyses, such as X-ray, CT-scan, and MRI, is one of the major limitations in the field of healthcare and becomes more challenging to the physicians while diagnosing. In this modern era, the advancement of various applications based on computer technology in the field of both education and research system of medical sciences shows high satisfaction with some challenging end points. The fast growth of imaging technology in the field of medical sciences is evidenced through its utilization in various forms starting from two-dimensional images toward the complex four-dimensional Doppler images to interpret the diagnostic reports. Development of image-processing techniques including image recognition, analysis, and enhancements is now possible to count and measure the results with an extreme level of accuracy that was proven using more applicable statistical tools as well. It is also identified that one of the major challenges in the field of medical research and education is interpretation of diagnostic reports including X-ray images, CT-scan, MRI, and histological images. Hence drawing a conclusion to the diagnosis and to start the treatment in its early stage is being a persisting obstacle. The term image processing technology can be simply defined as “a form of signal processing using simple photographic images or videos as input to derive a set of various characteristics and parameters as output that are highly related to input sources.” Adequate numbers of research reports showing the use of image-processing technology would be one of the potential tools in the early diagnosis not only in the field of medical sciences, such as tuberculosis, lung disorders, lung emphysema, pneumonia, and stroke, but also in dentistry, such as diseases and disorders of the oral cavity. Therefore, the main focus of this chapter is to discuss the importance of image processing technology in healthcare settings in predicting any disease and/or disorders at its early stage for the ease of treatment and thereby save human lives.