Method for counting mitoses by image processing in feulgen stained breast cancer sections

• Published in: Cytometry (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 241 - 250
• Main Authors: ten Kate, T. K., Beliën, J. A. M., Smeulders, A. W. M., Baak, J. P. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 1993; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: automatic evaluation; Automation; Biological and medical sciences; breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cell Count - methods; Coloring Agents; False Positive Reactions; Genital system. Mammary gland; Humans; Image analysis; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Mitosis; mitotic count; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Rosaniline Dyes; Software; tissue section; Mammary gland diseases; Tumor; Investigation method; Image processing; Mitosis; Counting
• ISSN: 0196-4763; 1097-0320
• DOI: 10.1002/cyto.990140302

This study describes an image processing method for the assessment of the mitotic count in Feulgen‐stained breast cancer sections. The segmentation procedure was optimized to eliminate 95–98% of the nonmitoses, whereas 11% of the mitoses did not survive the segmentation procedure. Contour features and optical density measurements of the remaining objects were computed to allow for classification. Twelve specimens were analyzed, nine used to serve as a training set, and three put aside for later use as independent test set. The fully automatic image processing method correctly classified 81% of the mitoses at the specimen level while inserting 30% false positives. The automatic procedure strongly correlated with the interactive counting procedure (r = 0.98). Although the fully automatic method provided satisfactory results, it is not yet suited for clinical practice. The automated method with an interactive evaluation step gave an accurate reflection of the mitotic count showing an almost perfect correlation with the results of the interactive morphometry (r = 0.998). Therefore this semiautomated method may be useful as prescreening device. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.