Automatic segmentation of cell nuclei using Krill Herd optimization based multi-thresholding and Localized Active Contour Model

Abstract

Analysis of tissue components in histopathology image stays on as the gold standard in detecting different types of cancers. Active Contour Models (ACM) serve as a widely useful tool in object segmentation in pathology images. Since the ACMs are susceptible to initial contour placement, efficiency of object detection is very much influenced by the selection of primary curve placement technique. In this paper, in order to handle diffused intensities present along object boundaries in histopathology images, segmentation of nuclei from breast histopathology images are carried out by Localized Active Contour Model (LACM) utilizing bio-inspired optimization techniques in the detection stage. Krill Herd Algorithm (KHA) based optimal curve placement provides better initial boundaries compared with other detection techniques. The segmentation performance is investigated based on Housdorff (HD) and Maximum Absolute Distance (MAD) measures. The algorithm also shows comparable performance with other state-of-the-art techniques in terms of quantitative measures such as Precision, Accuracy and Touching Nuclei Resolution when applied to complex images of stained breast biopsy slides.