Basal lamina visualization using color image processing and pattern recognition.

In histologic assessment, the absence of basal lamina is a useful feature for distinguishing invasive malignancy from benign and in situ lesions. As this feature is not possible to assess in routine H&E sections, pathologists have instead relied on histochemical and immunohistochemical stains to show components of the basal lamina such as laminin or type IV collagen. Standard image-processing software with the necessary image-processing toolbox (Matlab v5, Mathworks, Natick, MA) was used in a unique combination of color image processing and pattern recognition techniques to accentuate the collagenous stroma surrounding glands, which approximates basal lamina, in a series of benign, in situ, and invasive breast proliferations.

An automated diagnostic system for tubular carcinoma of the breast--an overview of approach and considerations.

A computer-based automated histopathology recognition system was developed to distinguish benign from malignant lesions. Tubular carcinoma of the breast, which has several reactive and neoplastic mimics, was selected as a model. Archival stained tumour sections from the United Kingdom National External Quality Assurance Scheme for breast pathology and supplementary material from external pathologists formed the study population.