Hyperspectral Imaging of Whole‐Cell Region for Differentiating Cervical Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion Cytology
ABSTRACT
Background
Cervical cytology offers a relatively safe and reliable method for cancer screening, but the tests contain vague grading criteria, such as atypical squamous cells, and cannot exclude high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASC‐H) and atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC‐US).
Methods
To explore distinct differentiation points among ASC‐H, high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), and non‐keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and among ASC‐US, low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), and negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy, hyperspectral imaging analyses were performed in cells mounted on 150 Papanicolaou‐stained specimens containing nine cervical cell types. Hyperspectral data were obtained from nuclei, cytoplasm, and whole‐cell regions in 4841 cells without overlap at 15‐nm increments in wavelength within the visible light spectrum (450–750 nm).
Results
Significant differences in hyperspectral intensity were observed between ASC‐H and HSIL at 487 nm to 517 nm ( p < 0.05), as well as among SCC at 457 nm ( p < 0.01). Further, hyperspectral intensity differences between ASC‐US and LSIL were notable at multiple wavelengths with the lowest p ‐value ( p = 0.006) at 532 nm. Interestingly, quantification of hyperspectral values revealed strong correlations between nucleus‐to‐cytoplasm ratio and hyperspectral intensity value of whole cell ( R 2 = 0.8339, p < 0.001), indicating that intensity from the whole cell provided the most informative indicator of cervical cells.
Conclusion
These results suggest that hyperspectral analysis of whole cells offers a valuable tool for differentiating atypical squamous cells from other cell types.