Use of the MAGISCAN image analyser in automated uterine cancer cytology.

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.