Image Processing and Cancer Detection

Histopathological Sections

normal breast tissue

DCIS cancer of breast

Under high magnification, changes become apparent in the nuclei of the cancerous tissue. As lesions develop, uncondensed chromatin becomes more pronounced, appearing darker than normal tissue. These densely clustered granules allow less light to pass through them when trans-illuminated.

in cancer cells (R), nuclear chromatin patterns vary from the norm

Images of nuclei are isolated from the tissue background during a process known as image segmentation. Digital analysis of nuclear images is the key to unlocking information hidden to the unaided eye.

normal

cancer