A method to determine the fractal dimension of the cross-sectional jaggedness of the infarct scar edge

Abstract

This study describes the use of a shareware software package available from the National Institutes of Health for computing the fractal dimension. Specifically, when fractal analysis is used in its correct context it provides for a quantitative description of the space filling properties of two-dimensional objects. A rabbit model of post myocardial infarction is described where the cross-sectional infarct edge is reconstructed and its jaggedness determined by calculating its fractal dimension via the pixel dilation method. The fractal dimensions of the anterior and posterior lateral infarct edges were calculated to have a mean of 1.16 and 1.29, respectively. In conclusion, the fractal technique can be used to describe the complex jaggedness of the infarct edge. This case study also illustrates the fact that the complexity of an infarcted area is not uniform across the scar. For example, we found that the space filling properties of the anterior and posterior borders of a myocardial infarct can differ by more than 2-fold.