title: Predictability of lymph node metastases by preoperative nuclear morphometry in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to assess the predictability of lymph node metastases by analyzing preoperative nuclear morphometry of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight cases of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (13 cases with metastasized lymph nodes, 15 node-negative cases) were examined. Using a computerized image system, the mean nuclear area, the nuclear perimeter, the circular rate, the largest to the smallest dimension ratio (LS ratio) of the nuclei, and the coefficient of variation of the nuclear area (NACV) were measured. The relationship between these results and the lymph node involved was evaluated retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nuclear area and perimeter were significantly higher in cases with metastasized lymph nodes than in node-negative cases (P<0.05). The circular rate was also higher in cases with no metastasized lymph nodes than in node-positive cases (P<0.05). The LS ratio was higher in cases with metastasized lymph nodes than in node-negative cases (P=0.072). The NACV value was also higher in cases with metastasized lymph nodes than in node-positive cases, which showed no significant differences (P=0.322).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative quantitative estimations of nuclear features could provide a feasible criterion for the prediction of lymph node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
authors.affiliation: Div of Oral/Maxillofacial Surgical Reconstruction and Functional Restoration, Dept of Developmental/Reconstructive Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan. georges@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Joji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sekine
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hideshima
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irie
authors.forename: Tsugio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inokuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000556:secondary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*