Systems and methods for quantitative analysis of histopathology images using multiclassifier ensemble schemes

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods for performing multi-stage detection and classification of cancer regions from digitized images of biopsy slides. Novel methods for processing the digitized images to improve feature extraction and structure identification are disclosed, including but not limited to the use of quaternions, logarithmic mappings of color channels, and application of wavelets to logarithmic color channel mappings. The extracted features are utilized in improved machine learning algorithms that are further optimized to analyze multiple color channels in multiple dimensions. The improved machine learning algorithms include techniques for accelerating the training of the algorithms, making their application to biopsy detection and classification practical for the first time. The performance of the described systems and methods are further improved by the disclosure of a novel multistage machine learning scheme, in which additional classifiers are utilized to choose among the classes proposed by other classifiers in close cases.