Is the Fractal Dimension of the Contour-lines a Reliable Tool for Classification of Medical Images?

When two-dimensional medical images are subject to fractal analysis, one of the methods used is to detect the contour of objects in the binary images and later to estimate the fractal dimension of the extracted contour. This scalar characteristic of the medical image should help in discrimination between normal and abnormal tissues. In this paper we expose the factors that affect the reliability of such examinations and put the fractal dimension in question as a valid criterion for description, classification and recognition in medical diagnosing.