title: Nuclear image analysis study of neuroendocrine tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a subjective disagreement about nuclear chromatin in the field of pathology. Objective values of red, green, and blue (RGB) light intensities for nuclear chromatin can be obtained through a quantitative analysis using digital images.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 10 cases of well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors of the rectum, small cell lung carcinomas, and moderately differentiated squamous cell lung carcinomas respectively. For each case, we selected 30 representative cells and captured typical microscopic findings. Using an image analyzer, we determined the longest nuclear line profiles and obtained graph files and Excel data on RGB light intensities. We assessed the meaningful differences in graph files and Excel data among the three different tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nucleus of hematoxylin and eosin-stained tumor cells was expressed as a combination of RGB light sources. The highest intensity was from blue, whereas the lowest intensity was from green. According to the graph files, green showed the most noticeable change in the light intensity, which is consistent with the difference in standard deviations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The change in the light intensity for green has an important implication for differentiating between tumors. Specific features of the nucleus can be expressed in specific values of RGB light intensities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Eulji University Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Meeja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Taehwa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Jongho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Hyunjin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Dongwook
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jooheon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyekyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Computer-assisted image processing; Neuroendocrine tumors; Nuclear chromatin