Application of low magnification image analysis cytometry to prostatic tissue.
Determination of the volume percentage of epithelial tissue present in prostatic tissue samples obtained by transurethral resection presents difficulties for high magnification (0.2-0.5 microns per pixel) measurement techniques due to the random orientation of tissue fragments when sectioned and the necessity of having to select "representative" areas for measurement. A low magnification (110 microns per pixel) image analysis technique was used to overcome these difficulties by allowing measurement of the epithelial tissue component to be made from the entire area of tissue available for microscopic examination. This technique which utilizes standard hematoxylin and eosin preparations was applied to 89 consecutive cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia, with measurement times of four mins per slide being obtained. Replicate measurement of 20 of these samples showed an average absolute difference between replicates of +/- 5.1 percent epithelial tissue. This method thus offers a simple, fast and practical alternative to high magnification methods of estimating the volume percentage of epithelial tissue when the selection of "representative" areas for measurement is complicated by specimen heterogeneity or when large numbers of specimens must be examined.
Jones
A S
AS
Department of Anatomical Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales.
Grace
J
J
D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000473:pathology*