Similarity measurement method for the classification of architecturally differentiated images

A similarity measurement method for the classification of architecturally d ifferentiated image sections is described. The strength of the method is de monstrated by performing the complex task of assigning severity grading (Gl eason grading) to histological slides of prostate cancer. As shown, all tha t is required to employ the method is a small set of preclassified images. The images can be real world images acquired by means of a camera, computer tomography, etc., or schematic drawings representing samples of different classes. The schematic option allows a quick test of the method for a parti cular classification problem. (C) 1999 Academic Press.