Color image analysis of cervical neoplasia using RGB computer color specification.
OBJECTIVE
To establish quantitative color image analysis for cytology, red, green and blue (RGB) color specification was applied to Papanicolaou-stained cervical smears.


METHODS
Cell samples used in this study was those from 300 cervical specimens. We analyzed the color tone of nuclei and cytoplasm of the squamous cells in the cervical smear by means of computer image analysis.


RESULTS
Papanicolaou stained nuclei displayed basophilic blue to purple. When they were hyperchromatic and deeply stained, B and G values decreased in value. The RGB values of cytoplasm and nuclei decreased significantly (P < .01) as their degree of cellular atypia increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Using RGB color specification to analyze Papanicolaou-stained cervical smears, a significant difference was perceived in the nucleus and cytoplasm between different groups of squamous cells, from normal, dysplastic and squamous cell carcinoma. These findings may help to establish automated cytology.
Nunobiki
Osamu
O
Department of Pathology, Wakayama Medical University, Japan.
Sato
Misako
M
Taniguchi
Emiko
E
Tang
Weihua
W
Nakamura
Misa
M
Utsunomiya
Hitoshi
H
Nakamura
Yasushi
Y
Mori
Ichiro
I
Kakudo
Kennichi
K
D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003116:Color; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears