title: Nuclear morphometry in flat epithelial atypia of the breast as a predictor of malignancy: a digital image-based histopathologic analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify morphometric features unique to flat epithelial atypia associated with cancer using digital image analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases with diagnosis of flat epithelial atypia were retrieved and divided into 2 groups: flat epithelial atypia associated with invasive or in situ carcinoma (n = 31) and those without malignancy (n = 27). Slides were digitally scanned. Nuclear features were analyzed on representative images at 20x magnification using digital morphometric software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parameters related to nuclear shape and size (diameter, perimeter) were similar in both groups. However, cases with malignancy had significantly higher densitometric green (p = 0.02), red (p = 0.03), and grey (p = 0.02) scale levels as compared to cases without cancer. A mean grey densitometric level > 119.45 had 71% sensitivity and 70.4% specificity in detecting cases with concomitant carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Morphometry of features related to nuclear staining appears to be useful in predicting risk of concurrent malignancy in patients with flat epithelial atypia, when added to a comprehensive histopathologic evaluation.
authors: Phillip A
authors: PA
authors: Williams
authors: Bojana
authors: B
authors: Djordjevic
authors: Yasmine
authors: Y
authors: Ayroud
authors: Shahidul
authors: S
authors: Islam
authors: Denis
authors: D
authors: Gravel
authors: Susan J
authors: SJ
authors: Robertson
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Parra-Herran
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D048430:Cell Shape; D048429:Cell Size; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans