title: Morphometric assessments for the prognostic evaluation of human gliomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To correlate stereological parameters to the WHO morphological classification of brain tumours and to address the prognostic value of the different parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative analysis of 50 astrocytomas was performed by an image analysis system. At least 450 nuclei were counted and measured in every sample. The ANOVA 1-way test and Newman-Keuls modification were used for statistical evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The morphometric data showed significant differences between the tumour grades. We found the nuclear volume and form factor to be parameters of the degree of 'nuclear atypia' from low- to high-grade gliomas. When malignancy was increased, the mean values of nuclear orientation were found to be elevated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study underline the usefulness of morphometric techniques in tumour research. These techniques seem to be an important tool for grading gliomas and also for practical therapeutic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neuropathology, Neurological Clinic of the University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece. ekarariz@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Evangelia G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Kararizou
authors.forename: Panajota T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Davaki
authors.forename: Roubini G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Davou
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vassilopoulos
mesh_terms: D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis