DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.25397620.v1
title: Elsafty_RBCs_Cellular_Images_and_Masks

description: This Elsafty_RBCs_Cellular_Images_and_Masks dataset is systematically structured into three primary folders: "Cropped images”, "Masks”, and "Segmented images”. Within each of these primary folders, there are nine subfolders, meticulously dedicated to each RBCs class, encompassing the following counts of cells: "Angled cells: 24,187", "Borderline ovalocytes: 35,540”, "Burr cells: 8,948”, "Fragmented RBCs: 7,186”, "Ovalocytes: 55,073”, "Rounded RBCs: 46,338”, "Teardrops: 16,298”, "Three-overlapping RBCs: 15,577”, and "Two-overlapping RBCs: 31,360”. Each of the total 240,507 cells is represented by its own cropped image, mask, and segmented image. Samples for every class were collected from each slide/patient. The naming scheme for the cropped image, mask, and segmented image of every cell adheres to a consistent format, starting with the slide/patient number, followed by the unique patch/field number, and concluding with the (XYWH) coordination on the patch. All these images are conveniently stored in the lossless ".PNG" format.The presence of fragmented RBCs or teardrop-shaped RBCs is medically significant as it is commonly associated with serious medical conditions. Fragmented RBCs are defined as RBCs that are smaller than half the average normal/rounded RBCs size and/or irregularly shaped fragments with sharp, angular, or jagged edges. Identifying these cells is the most reliable indicator to confirm the diagnosis of diseases such as hemolytic anemias, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). However, reporting fragmented RBCs in TTP and DIC can be a challenge due to their infrequency in hematology labs; furthermore, the cutoff for significant presence in these two serious diseases is just above 1–1.5% of the total RBCs, increasing the risk of overlooking them. Crucially, in cases of critical thrombocytopenia where the platelet count is less than 20 K/µL, platelet transfusion may be necessary, but this intervention can be life-threatening in TTP and DIC. Therefore, identifying and counting fragmented RBCs could be critical for the accurate diagnosis and management of patients with associated medical conditions.Increased teardrop-shaped RBCs above 2–4% in adults can be indicative of bone marrow fibrosis caused by bone marrow cancers, and in non-cancerous conditions, rushed erythropoiesis/production of blood to compensate for severe anemia is the differential diagnosis. Currently, manual or DL-based visual examination is the only way to identify teardrop-shaped RBCs. It is essential to differentiate between true teardrop-shaped RBCs, which have a single blunt protrusion, and false ones that have sharp surface projections without necks or have more than one blunt protrusion. Mechanical stress during blood smear preparation often leads to the formation of false teardrop shapes, primarily at the outer edges of the blood film.Ovalocytes are a type of RBCs that have an abnormal oval shape. The presence of ovalocytes exceeding 5–10% of the total RBCs is associated with almost all types of anemia or erythrocytosis. They may display elongation and/or a pear shape, but without any blunt or sharp surface protrusions. Occasionally, they can also appear in normal blood smears due to mechanical deformation during preparation, though at a low frequency.The burr cells have uneven surfaces with several small notches and protrusions. Likewise, no technological substitute currently exists for the visual recognition of burr cells, which tend to elevate under conditions of dehydration, such as in cases of renal failure or dehydrated neonates. Alternatively, in situations lacking medical justification, the presence of burr cells may arise due to the extended drying of smears during the manual staining procedure.