Discrimination between normal and malignant gastric epithelial cells by computer image analysis.
The nuclei of 21 normal and 23 malignant epithelial cells from gastric smears obtained by brushing were analyzed by a black-and-white video camera under computer control. Each nucleus was digitized and its relief smoothed and displayed. A Sobel operator determined the nuclear boundaries and nuclear core area. Eighteen nuclear parameters (form descriptors and gray-value descriptors) were extracted for each nucleus and used as variables for discriminant analysis. Nine of these parameters proved useful for discrimination between normal and malignant gastric epithelial cells, with a correct classification rate of 100%. Of these, the best discriminating variables were the maximal gray value in the core, the maximal horizontal and vertical diameters, the core area and the mean derivative value in the core.