title: Discriminant analysis of image karyometric variables in benign and malignant melanocytic skin lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform a quantitative analysis to identify which of 7 nuclear morphometry-related variables are of diagnostic value in distinguishing benign from malignant melanocytic skin lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  At the Institute of Pathology, University of Nis, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin biopsies from 23 cases of benign nevi (18 intradermal and 5 junctional) and 25 cases of primary nodular malignant melanomas were retrieved. Specimens were routinely stained with hematoxylin and eosin and analyzed using a computer-assisted interactive image analysis system. Nuclear area, equivalent diameter, volume of equivalent sphere, perimeter, mean chord, circularity and integrated optical density were estimated after manual editing of binary images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In univariate analysis, 6 features were found to be significantly different between the benign and malignant groups (P < .0001); all measured nuclear variables (except circularity) were higher in malignant melanomas. No significant differences were found among lesions with respect to nuclear shape. Using discriminant function analysis, a correct diagnosis was achieved in 95.8% of benign nevi cases and 84.0% of malignant melanoma cases. The best discriminant variable was nuclear area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Image analysis is diagnostically relevant to the evaluation of melanocytic lesions of the skin. The area of the nucleus appeared to have potential for differentiating benign from malignant tumors and can be estimated in the course of routine histology.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Nis, Bulevar Lenjina 59/7, 18000 Nis, Serbia, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: Zaklina
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mijovic
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mihailovic
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007620:Karyometry; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008545:Melanoma / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009506:Nevus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*