Computerized morphometry of mean nuclear diameter and nuclear roundness in canine mammary gland tumors on cytologic smears.
BACKGROUND
The use of computer-based image analysis systems in veterinary oncology has increased. Computerized morphometry is a part of image analysis that describes geometric figures of cellular structures in any dimension. Most investigators have performed morphometric analysis on histologic specimens. Computer-assisted nuclear cytomorphometry can provide important preoperative information on neoplastic lesions in animals.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to define whether the morphometric parameters of mean nuclear diameter and nuclear roundness could be used to differentiate benign from malignant canine mammary gland tumors on cytologic specimens.


METHODS
Mean nuclear diameter and nuclear roundness were determined by computer-assisted morphometry of epithelial cells in Hemacolor-stained cytologic smears from normal canine mammary gland (n = 7) and from canine mammary adenomas (n = 8), tubulopapillary carcinomas (n = 9), and solid carcinomas (n = 6). Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test.


RESULTS
Significant differences (P <.001) were found in mean nuclear diameter and nuclear roundness among all tumor types and in comparison with normal canine mammary gland epithelial cells (except for nuclear roundness between tubulopapillary carcinomas and solid carcinomas).


CONCLUSIONS
The morphometric parameters of mean nuclear diameter and nuclear roundness can be used in the preoperative differentiation of benign from malignant canine mammary gland tumors.
Simeonov
Radostin
R
Department of General and Clinical Pathology of Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. simeonov@vereya.net
Simeonova
Galina
G
D000818:Animals; D001331:Automation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006652:Histological Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000473:pathology*