A novel approach based on computerized image analysis for traditional Chinese medical diagnosis of the tongue

This research is aimed at building a computerized tongue examination system (CTES) based on computerized image analysis for the purpose of quantizing the tongue properties in traditional Chinese medical diagnosis. The chromatic algorithm is developed to identify the colors of the tongue and the thickness of its coating. The textural algorithm is used to detect the grimy coating. CTES is shown to be significantly consistent within itself with P > 0.05 using the Hotelling multivariate statistical test. The overall rate of correctness for CTES to identify the colors of tongue, verifying the thickness of its coating and detecting of any grimy coating exceeds 86%. Therefore, the CTES is helpful to provide the physicians a systematic and objective diagnostic standard for the tongue diagnosis in the clinical practice and research. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.