Machine learning system can identify cancer cells based on how they scatter light

Cytological tests are a common method of screening for cancer cells in stained cell samples. Using a microscope, pathologists examine cells collected from bodily fluids, looking for telltale signs of malignancy, like enlarged nuclei or abnormal cell shapes. Owing to their minimally invasive nature, these tests are widely used for early cancer screening and diagnosis.

In general, getting accurate results from a cytology test depends largely on the skill of the pathologist performing it. However, in some cases, cancerous cells and normal cells can look identical, with differences occurring only at scales smaller than conventional microscopes can resolve.

These differences often involve changes in nanometric structures, such as actin filaments and microtubules that make up the internal cellular scaffolding, potentially altering how the cell scatters light.

Could machine learning-based systems detect these subtle optical differences?

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