Seeded Region Growing Features Extraction Algorithm International Journal of The Computer, the Internet and Management Vol. 13#1 (January – April, 2005) pp 61 -70 61 Seeded Region Growing Features Extraction Algorithm; Its Potential Use in Improving Screening for Cervical Cancer N. A. Mat-Isa 1 , M. Y. Mashor 2 , and N. H. Othman 3 1,2 Control and Electronic Intelligent System (CELIS) Research Group, School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Malaysia. E-mail 1 : ashidi75@yahoo.co.uk , E-mail 2 : yusof@eng.usm.my 3 Pathology Department, School of Medical Science Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. E-mail 3 : hayati@kb.usm.my Abstract Region growing algorithm has successfully been used as a segmentation technique of digital images. The current study went one step further by utilizing the potential use of thresholding the region growing algorithm as features extraction technique. The proposed features extraction algorithm is called seeded region growing features extraction (SRGFE). This algorithm was used to extract four features of cervical cells; size of nucleus, size of cytoplasm, grey level of nucleus and grey level of cytoplasm. Correlation test was applied between data extracted using the proposed SRGFE algorithm with the data extracted manually by cytotechnologists. The high correlation value obtained in the correlation test show that the SRGFE algorithm is suitable and has high capability to be used as an image extraction technique to extract important features of cervical cells. This would assist cytopathologists and cytotechnologists in the cervical cancer screening by providing accurate value of size and grey level of nuclear and cytoplasmic features. Keywords Seeded region growing features extraction (SRGFE), cervical cells, Pap smear, medical imaging, features extraction. 1. Introduction Cervical cancer is the second common form of cancer among women (Othman, 2003, WebMD, 2003). Cervical cancer is a silent cancer. Unlike other cancers that cause pain, noticeable lumps or other early symptoms, cervical cancer has no telltale symptoms until it is so advanced that is usually unresponsive to treatment (WebMD, 2003). Only in its late stage, cervical cancer causes pain in the lower abdominal or back regions. However, most cervical cancer takes many years to develop from normal to dangerous stage. The mortality related to cervical cancer can be substantially reduced through early detection and treatment. Currently, Pap test is the most popular method to detect the presence of abnormal