Computer Recognition of Cervical Cell Nuclei

Abstract

COMPUTER programmes which process data obtained by scanning 35-mm films of individual cervical cells are being tested in an attempt to obtain a quantitative definition of the differences between normal and malignant cells. The scanning instrument is of an electro-optical nature and has a digital output^1,2. It scans the photographic film in an array of points with each point yielding a number (between 0 and 128) the value of which depends on the emulsion density. The scan resolution can be varied from 4 lines each with 4 points to 256 lines each with 512 points. A typical single line scan (with 128 points) across a cervical cell nucleus is seen in Fig. 1. Normally these data are punched out automatically on paper tape, suitable for input to a Ferranti Sirius computer.