title: Use of the MAGISCAN image analyser in automated uterine cancer cytology.
abstract: A low-cost automatic prescreening system for uterine cancer cytology based on the commerically available MAGISCAN Image Analyser is described. Dispersed hematoxylin-stained samples are viewed with an automated TV microscope. Software has been written to locate cell nuclei at 4 micron resolution and trace each nuclear boundary at 0.5 micron resolution. At least six parameters per nucleus are measured, including intergrated optical density. Cells are classified using a multiparameter look-up table. Analysis rats of 600 cells per minute can be achieved. Because the hardware and much of the software are already available, a high performance:cost ratio can be achieved, resulting in a system that could be cost effective in a laboratory with a throughput of 15,000 smears per annum.
mesh_terms: D001322:Autoanalysis; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003201:Computers; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D013690:Television; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears