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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate proliferative activity in a set of gliomas and to compare the quantitative data obtained by a real-time processor with the labelling index (LI) and mitotic index (MI). STUDY DESIGN: Ki-67 immunostaining was performed on paraffin-embedded specimens from 42 cases of glioblastomas, 17 cases of anaplastic astrocytomas and 14 cases of low grade astrocytomas. Nuclear positivity was calculated as LI and by a real-time image processor for quantitative evaluation. MI was also calculated at 10 high-power fields. The data obtained from glioblastomas were compared with those from anaplastic and low grade astrocytomas. To all the data was applied the Pearson test to verify the correlation between counting and quantitative values and between proliferative markers and survival. RESULTS: A positive trend from low grade astrocytomas to glioblastomas was found for Ki-67 (LI and quantitative values) and MI, with highly significant differences between the three grades of gliomas considered. A good correlation between LI and quantitative values of Ki-67 was found. Very little relationship resulted between survival and Ki-67 LI. No relationship was found between survival and quantitative values of Ki-67. CONCLUSION: Ki-67 allowed effective separation of astrocytic tumors with different grades of malignancy. Quantitative evaluation of color information by means of a real-time processor proved to be a useful, objective and fast way to obtain readings, useful for grading purposes but not for prognostic evaluation.

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OBJECTIVE: To determine whether nuclear morphometry can confirm or add useful information to classic clinicopathological prognosticators to identify the subpopulation of breast carcinoma patients with node-negative (N-) disease, at high risk of disease relapse. STUDY DESIGN: On the basis of results obtained by clinicopathologic evaluation of a group of patients with N- breast cancer, on a test group of 56 cases (32 patients disease free and 24 with relapse), we performed a morphometric analytical study of nuclei using the Shape Analytical Morphometry (SAM) software system; 20 nuclei for each case and 17 morphometric parameters for each nucleus were analyzed. RESULTS: The SAM system allowed us to quantify shape differences in nuclei in terms of contour irregularities and asymmetries along with evaluation of nuclear dimensions. Dimensional and analytic parameters were subjected to univariate (Student's t test) and multivariate (Hotelling's test) analysis. Multivariate discriminant analysis showed that an exact forecast of disease relapse could be made in 77% of patients with N- breast cancer by using a set of six both analytic and dimensional parameters. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that nuclear pleomorphism is the result of both contour irregularities and shape asymmetries and that even though they should be considered preliminary results, they stress the importance of quantitative shape evaluation.

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Eighteen cases of astrocytomas diagnosed as grades 1-3 of malignancy were studied with analytical morphometry to determine if different grades can be discriminated by size and shape parameters related to the nuclei. The shape analytical morphometry system was used to calculate dimensional measurements and express shape irregularities through quantitative parameters. With the shape asymmetry evaluator procedure, nuclear symmetry was evaluated. All parameters subjected to univariate and multivariate strategies were the same in easily distinguishing grade 1 from the others. Grades 2 and 3 could not be discriminated completely by either dimensional or with analytical parameters revealing strong similarities of nuclear shape and dimensions.

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The aim of this work was to seek quantitative parameters other than dimensions to describe nuclear shape and, by this means, to determine the sum of contour irregularities and large asymmetries and seek a connection with the biologic behavior of the tumor. Nuclei of the cells obtained from 57 aspiration smears of breast cancers were studied. Dimensional parameters (area, perimeter, maximum diameter and roundness factor) and analytic parameters were computed by the Shape Analytical Morphometry software system to evaluate both contour irregularities and asymmetry of nuclear shape. All the tumors were subdivided according to their diameters into two groups: T1 tumors, the maximum diameter of which was < 2 cm (18 cases), and T2 tumors, the maximum diameter of which was > 2 cm and < 5 cm (39 cases). Among T1 tumors, both dimensional and analytic parameters were highly significant (P < .001) in distinguishing tumors with (N+) and tumors without (N-) axillary metastases, while among larger tumors (T2) only the analytic parameters showed degrees of significance, albeit variable. It could be inferred that in smaller tumors, aggressiveness is related to an increase in nuclear dimensions and shape distortions more so than in larger tumors.

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A computer evaluation of 3D trend of bone surface of human skull has been pointed out. By means of projection of dark and light horizontal lines on the skull the authors were able to obtain distortions of lines themselves in a related way to relief. By digitizing prints of the resulting image it was possible to work points and lines in a orthogonal coordinates or to evaluate cord/arch ratios and related surfaces. A 3D information adding to bidimensional image is a convenient performance for comparative studies in cranio-facial superimposition for personal identification and other items.

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