Quantification of nuclear pleomorphism using an asymptotic fractal model.
OBJECTIVE
Nuclear pleomorphism (nuclear membrane irregularity) was investigated using transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs of 1,419 nuclei (32 oral carcinomas and normal cells from surgical margins).


METHODS
Nuclear profiles (1,400 x) were digitized (1 pixel = 35 nm) and fractal dimension estimated using the "yardstick" method.


RESULTS
Log-log plots of yardstick length vs. perimeter showed a significant effect on length measurement typical of fractals at low resolutions (large yardsticks), but this effect disappeared at higher resolution (small yardsticks); that is compatible with Rigaut's asymptotic fractal model. Analysis of the asymptotic fractal parameters c, L and Bm showed that c was higher in normal nuclei, but log(L) and Bm were higher in malignant nuclei. A linear discriminant analysis using c, log(L) and Bm reclassified correctly 78.8% of the nuclei (normal 88.0%, tumor 70.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
Asymptotic fractal analysis of nuclear profiles appears to show great potential for quantitative discrimination of oral cancer cell features.
Landini
G
G
Oral Pathology Unit, School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, U.K.
Rippin
J W
JW
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017709:Fractals; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*