Estimation of the Ki-67 Proliferation Marker Expression Level with Computer Vision Technology

Abstract

Lately, computer vision technologies have become common computer diagnostics tools. The study objective is the development of software tools to automatically detect cells with proliferation markers on medical images. We managed to qualitatively assess the number of cells with proliferation markers on a medical image sample. We closely cooperated with morphologists who identified the areas of interest on the image where the cells with proliferation markers were to be counted. Another enabler was extensive experience with developing computer vision systems for other applications. The medical images were tokenized by the morphologists. The images were slices where the proliferation marker cells were dyed. The organ under investigation was the tongue. We counted the immune-positive cells. It helped the morphologists to have some objective slice image metrics used to adjust the diagnosis and therapy plans.