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Quantitative morphometric analysis of fine needle aspirates of breast carcinoma

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Abstract

Background

Reports of morphometric analysis using computerized digitized images of fine needle aspirates of breast cancer are rare. We aimed to evaluate whether quantitative morphometric estima-tions of cytological nuclear features could be used for preoperative prediction of the risk of recurrence as well as chemosensitivity.

Methods

Seventy consecutive breast cancer patients were treated with preoperative chemotherapy (Doxifluridine 800 mg/body/day, orally) for 4 weeks and subsequently they underwent surgery. Using Papanicolaou-stained cytological materials, computerized morphometric analyses were performed. Mean nuclear area (NA) was measured and the coefficient of variation of NA (NACV) was calculated as the quantitative parameter of nuclear atypism. NA and NACV were compared with prognostic factors (tumor size, histological grade, hormone receptor status, nodal status, and ploidy status), and with the response to the chemotherapy.

Results

NA and NACV were significantly associated with hormone receptor status and ploidy status (p<0.05). NACV correlated with histological grade (p<0.05). Neither NA nor NACV were associated with tumor size and nodal status. Patients with high NACV (>35%) had lower rates of disease-free survival (p<0.05) than those with low NACV (≦35%). Responders to preoperative chemotherapy had statistically larger NA, higher NACV and higher S-phase fraction at the time of diagnosis compared with non-responders (p<0.001,p<0.0005, andp<0.05 respectively).

Conclusions

Morphometric analysis of preoperative fine needle aspirates reflects important clinical information, such as the risk of recurrence, and particularly, chemosensitivity.

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Abbreviations

FNAC:

Fine needle aspiration cytology

FCM:

Flow cytometry

NA:

Nuclear area

NACV:

Coefficient of variation of nuclear area

SD:

Standard deviation

Dl:

DNA index

SPF:

S-phase fraction

ER:

Estrogen receptor

PgR:

Progesterone receptor

CNB:

Core needle biopsy

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The First Department of Surgery, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan

    Masato Suzuki, Masaki Oshida, Takeshi Nagashima, Hideyuki Hashimoto, Hiroshi Yagata & Nobuyuki Nakajima

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  1. Masato Suzuki
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  2. Masaki Oshida
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  3. Takeshi Nagashima
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  4. Hideyuki Hashimoto
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Suzuki, M., Oshida, M., Nagashima, T. et al. Quantitative morphometric analysis of fine needle aspirates of breast carcinoma. Breast Cancer 8, 138–145 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02967493

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