Thermographic image analysis method in detection of canine bone cancer (osteosarcoma)

Bone cancer is a pathologic condition which may occur for both humans and canines. This tumor develops quickly from within the bone tissue and become painful as it grows outward. A metastasized bone tumor may be cured by amputation, otherwise it will be fatal. The current diagnostic imaging methods for bone cancer are X-rays, Computed Tomography scan (CT scan), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The disadvantages of these methods include not enough detail in X-ray images, high dose of radiation from CT scans, and high expense of the time-consuming MRI method. In most of the bone cancer cases, when this tumor is detected by these imaging methods, it has already metastasized. The study is to investigate whether it is possible to detect canine bone cancer by thermography imaging. This alternative imaging method will decrease diagnostic time, expenses and prevent radiation exposure. The best classification success rate obtained in this study is 80.77%.