title: Cytomorphometric differentiation of intraductal proliferative breast lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although cytologic examination has been an indispensable procedure for the diagnosis of various breast diseases, it is often difficult to make a precise diagnosis of intraductal proliferative breast lesions preoperatively. The present study attempts to clarify the differentiation of the lesions by the cytologic morphometric approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytologic specimens from 21 intraductal lesions, including nine ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS), seven ductal hyperplasias (DH), and five papillomas were evaluated. Using a microscope connected to a computerized video system, the mean nuclear area, the perimeter, the form factor, the largest to smallest diameter ratio of the nuclei (LS ratio), and the coefficient of variation of the nuclear area (NACV) were measured and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean nuclear area and perimeter were significantly higher in the cases of DCIS than in DH (p < 0.01) and papilloma (p < 0.005). Similarly, DCIS had higher NACV values than the other groups (p < 0.05 and p < 0.005, respectively). There were no significant differences in form factor or LS ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quantitative estimation of cytologic nuclear features is useful for preoperative differential diagnosis of intraductal proliferative lesions of the breast.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yagata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shishikura
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Imanaka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D048429:Cell Size; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D010212:Papilloma / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*