An automated approach to the segmentation of HEp-2 cells for the indirect immunofluorescence ANA test. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tonti, Simone; Di Cataldo, Santa; Bottino, Andrea; Ficarra, Elisa
• Is Part Of: Computerized medical imaging and graphics. Volume 40(2015)
• Page Start: 62
• Page End: 69
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: 68U10 -- 92C55; HEp-2 cell segmentation -- Cell pattern analysis -- Indirect immunofluorescence -- ANA testing -- Microscope image processing; Diagnostic imaging -- Periodicals; Imaging systems in medicine -- Periodicals; Diagnosis, Radioscopic -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Diagnostic Imaging -- Periodicals; Imagerie pour le diagnostic -- Périodiques; Diagnostic imaging; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 616.0754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compmedimag.2014.12.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-6111

Abstract

Abstract : Highlights: We propose automated segmentation of HEp-2 cells in immunofluorescence imaging. We apply the same pipeline to images with different fluorescent pattern and intensity. Our segmentation approach is based on adaptive marker-controlled watershed. We assess the accuracy of our approach on a public dataset. We compare our performance with significant works from literature. Abstract: The automatization of the analysis of Indirect Immunofluorescence (IIF) images is of paramount importance for the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. This paper proposes a solution to one of the most challenging steps of this process, the segmentation of HEp-2 cells, through an adaptive marker-controlled watershed approach. Our algorithm automatically conforms the marker selection pipeline to the peculiar characteristics of the input image, hence it is able to cope with different fluorescent intensities and staining patterns without any a priori knowledge. Furthermore, it shows a reduced sensitivity to over-segmentation errors and uneven illumination, that are typical issues of IIF imaging.