Fractal Analysis Usage Areas in Healthcare

Abstract

This chapter presents a brief introduction to fractal analysis usage areas and their roles in the healthcare system. The definition of fractal, the properties of fractal, what is fractal dimension, most known methods used in fractal analysis and fractal analysis usage areas in healthcare have been examined under the different titles. The comparison of Euclidean geometry and fractal geometry has been explained. Accordingly, the relationship between fractal dimension (D ) and Euclidean topological dimension (DT ) has been expressed. A range of scientific research about fractal analysis in the healthcare system have been reviewed. As a most known fractal analysis methods Box Counting method, Richardson’s method, Dilation (pixel dilation) method and Mass (mass-radius) method have been explained briefly. Moreover, a glance of some usage areas for fractal analysis in healthcare system are COVID-19 disease, oncology, cardiology, brain imaging, neuroscience, dental, osteoporosis, ophthalmology and dermatology have been given. The reviewed studies about fractal analysis in many different areas showed that it can be used to obtain information about the severity and progression of the existing disease or early detection of a potential disease. The main goal of this study can be explained as briefly that giving an opinion to researchers about the usage areas of fractal analysis in healthcare.