Image processing in Biodosimetry: Influence of cytogenetic procedures

Abstract

The present commercial softwares, used for image processing in Biodosimetry, are mostly expensive and developed in dedicated systems, and they may not be adapted for microscopes of routine laboratory. The aim of this study was to report the prototype software developed at the Laboratório de Modelagem e Biodosimetria Aplicada, and as well, highlight the influence of the quality of chromosome preparations in image processing for Cytogenetic dosimetry. The prototype application includes filters for noise reduction, contrast enhancement techniques, segmentation based on gray levels combined with morphological operators, interactive tools for separating chromosomes and access to a database, providing resources for pattern recognition.The influence of cytogenetic procedures was evaluated in 19 metaphases of peripheral blood lymphocytes, divided into three criteria: clear, with little or no overlap and without overlapping chromatids; excessive contraction of chromosomes; chromosome not uniformly dispersed. When some recommended cytogenetic procedures were despised, the effectiveness of the software was zero. However, if quality standards were maintained, the correct count of the number of chromosomes, after the segmentation, reached a precision of up to 22%. This percentage increase to 80% when the interactive technique for object separation was performed. In this study, the use of tools implemented a program of low-cost and no dedicated proved useful in the training of professionals in Cytogenetic dosimetry and Interlaboratory comparisons, through access to a database.