Fractal dimension of canine mammary gland epithelial tumors on cytologic smears.
BACKGROUND
Fractal geometry is a tool that can be used for describing, modeling, analyzing, and processing irregular and complex figures. Past investigations in medicine have revealed that fractal analysis could also be applied in tumor pathology to characterize irregular boundaries of the nuclei of tumor cells.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to define whether the fractal dimension parameter could be used on cytologic specimens to differentiate benign from malignant canine mammary gland epithelial tumors.


METHODS
The fractal dimension of nuclear surface was determined by computer-assisted morphometry on Hemacolor-stained cytologic smears obtained by fine needle aspiration of normal canine mammary gland epithelial cells, and cells in mammary adenomas, tubulopapillary carcinomas, solid carcinomas, and anaplastic carcinomas. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test.


RESULTS
Significant differences (P <.001) were observed in mean fractal dimension among all tumor types and in comparison with normal canine mammary gland epithelial cells (except for the fractal dimension between solid carcinomas and anaplastic carcinomas).


CONCLUSIONS
The morphometric parameter, fractal dimension, could help in the diagnostic discrimination between benign and malignant canine mammary gland epithelial tumors on cytologic specimens.
Simeonov
Radostin
R
Department of General and Clinical Pathology of Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. rsimeonov@uni-sz.bg
Simeonova
Galina
G
D000818:Animals; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D017709:Fractals; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology*; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology