World's First Cervical Cancer Computerised Diagnosis System By USM

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- A team of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) researchers has invented the world's first computerised cervical cancer diagnosis system (CCAID) that is capable of detecting the disease quickly and effectively.
Chief researcher Dr Nor Ashidi Mat Isa said that unlike the old system which required several pathologists and a long time to analyse the cancerous cells, the CCAID only required one pathologist.
"With the CCAID, only one pathologist is enough to detect the cancer within a short period even thought there are lots of cases reported," he said at the Malaysian Technology Expo here last night.
The system was jointly developed by five researchers -- Assoc Prof Dr Mohamed Yusoff Mashor, Prof Dr Nor Hayati Othman, Nor Rizuan Mat Noor, Sariah Rajuli and Nazahah Mustafa.
Dr Nor Ashidi said the computer's smart system was divided into two main components, the light microscope and diagnosis software and a monitor.
"The computerised light microscope can magnify the enlarge cell image by up to 400 times and the image can be recorded and processed via the diagnosis software before being displayed on the monitor screen," he said.
Dr Nor Ashidi added that pathologists would only focus their tests on the affected cells, which would save time.
He explained that vital information like the stage of the cancer, either normal, dangerous or critical, and the accuracy of the test would be displayed.
However, he said, the CCAID was still at laboratory stage where more tests and further research must be performed before it could be commercialised as a mass-screening tool.