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Absence of Prognostic Value of Nuclear Shape Factor Analysis in Colorectal Carcinoma: Relevance of Interobserver and Intraobserver Variability

  • Original Contribution
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Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

Purpose

Several retrospective studies, including our previous investigation, have shown a prognostic value of nuclear shape factor in colorectal carcinomas. This prospective study was designed to assess the reliability of nuclear shape factor determined by nuclear morphometry and to confirm its prognostic value.

Methods

Ninety-eight patients who underwent colorectal carcinoma resection were prospectively enrolled. Measurement of nuclear shape factor was performed by using a computer-based image analysis system. Nuclear shape factor was defined as the degree of circularity of the nucleus (1.0 for a perfect circle and <1.0 for any other elliptical shape). The prognostic impact of nuclear shape factor on ten-year survival and the intraobserver and interobserver agreement were assessed.

Results

The nuclear shape factor mean values by American Joint Committee on Cancer stage were: 0.73 (0.07) in Stage I, 0.74 (0.06) in Stage II, and 0.75 (0.05) in Stage III carcinomas (P = 0.78, ANOVA). The intraobserver agreement was poor for observer A (r = 0.28) and practically nonexistent for observer B (r = −0.004, Pearson correlation). The intraclass coefficient for interobserver agreement was practically nonexistent. No significant association between nuclear shape factor and ten-year survival was found.

Conclusions

Our prospective results, as opposed to our previous retrospective results, suggest that the reliability for nuclear shape factor morphometric analysis is very poor. We failed to confirm a prognostic value for nuclear shape factor in colorectal carcinoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Cote Ste. Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2, Canada

    Francesco Di Fabio M.D. & Philip H. Gordon M.D., F.R.C.S.(C.)

  2. Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Ian Shrier M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Division of Anatomic Pathology, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Louis R. Bégin M.D., F.R.C.P.C.

  4. Cattedra di Chirurgia Generale, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Brescia School of Medicine, Brescia, Italy

    Francesco Di Fabio M.D.

Authors
  1. Francesco Di Fabio M.D.
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  2. Ian Shrier M.D., Ph.D.
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  3. Louis R. Bégin M.D., F.R.C.P.C.
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  4. Philip H. Gordon M.D., F.R.C.S.(C.)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philip H. Gordon M.D., F.R.C.S.(C.).

Additional information

Supported by a grant from the Research Foundation of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

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Di Fabio, F., Shrier, I., Bégin, L.R. et al. Absence of Prognostic Value of Nuclear Shape Factor Analysis in Colorectal Carcinoma: Relevance of Interobserver and Intraobserver Variability. Dis Colon Rectum 51, 1781–1785 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-008-9411-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-008-9411-4

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