Summary
At present there are several grading systems for prostatic carcinoma. Most are difficult to reproduce. An objective method of grading seems to be necessary and could make comparisons between various groups of patients easier and grading more reliable.
In the present study morphometrically estimated nuclear size and variation in nuclear size are matched with the survival rates of 207 patients who underwent total perineal prostatetomy for cancer. On the basis of morphometrically estimated variation in nuclear size the patients could be divided into two groups with significantly differing survival rates. In this way it was possible to split the group of patients with grade 2 carcinoma (Mostofi's grading system) into two groups of patients with significantly different survival rates. The survival rates in these two groups did not differ significantly from those in the patients with Grade 1 and Grade 3 tumors respectively.
The results are discussed in the light of the recent literature on the subject. Morphometry seems to be a valuable tool in grading prostatic cancer.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barnett RN (1971) Analysis of variance. In: Barnett RN (ed) Clinical laboratory statistics. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, p 32
Blom JHM, ten Kate FJW, Schroeder FH, van der Heul RO (1983) Grading of prostatic carcinoma — Evaluation of single parameters and cytomorphometry. In: Pavone-Macaluso M, smith PH (eds) Cancer of the prostate and kidney. Plenum Press, New York, p 109
Blom JHM, ten Kate FJW, Schroeder FH, van der Heul RO (1982) Nuclear pleomorphism as a parameter in grading prostatic carcinoma. A morphometrical study. Abstract 213, presented at the Annual Meeting of the AUA, Kansas City
Blom JHM, ten Kate FJW, Schroeder FH, van der Heul RO (1983) Zellkernpleiomorphismus als ein Parameter beim Grading des Prostatakarzinoms. Eine morphometrische Studie. Beitr Urol 3:320
Broders AC (1920) Squamous-cell epithelioma of the lip. A study of five hundred and thirty-seven cases. JAMA 74:656
Diamond DA, Berry SJ, Umbricht Ch, Jewett HJ, Coffey DS (1982) Computerized image analysis of nuclear shape as a prognostic factor for prostatic cancer. Prostate 3:321
Diamond DA, Berry SJ, Jewett HJ, Eggleston JC, Coffey DS (1982) A new method to assess metastatic potential of human prostate cancer: relative nuclear roundness. J Urol 128:729
Epstein JI, Berry SJ, Eggleston JC (1984) Nuclear roundness factor: a predictor of progression in untreated Stage A2 prostate cancer. Cancer 54:1666
Gaeta JF, Gardner Jr WA (1979) Histologic grading of prostatic cancer: background and possibilities. In: Murphy GP (ed) Prostatic cancer, PSG Publishing Co, Littleton, p41
Harada M, Mostofi FK, Corle DK, Byar DP, Trump BF (1977) Preliminary studies of histologic prognosis in cancer of the prostate. Cancer Treat Rep 61:223
Kaplan EL, Meier P (1958) Nonparametric estimation from incomplete observations. J Am Stat Assoc 53:457
Kern WH (1978) Well differentiated adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Cancer 41:2046
Mostofi FK (1975) Grading of prostatic carcinoma. Part 1. Cancer Chemother Rep 59:111
Mostofi FK (1976) Problems of grading carcinoma of prostate. Semin Oncol 3:161
Oort J, Baak JPA, Boon ME, Swanson Beck J, Anderson JM, van der Heul RO, Meijer CJLM, van der Valk P (1983) Applications of morphometry in tumour pathology. In: Baak JPA, Oort J (eds) A manual of morphometry in diagnostic pathology, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, p48
Schroeder FH, Blom JHM, Hop WCJ, Mostofi FK (1985) Grading of prostatic cancer (I). An analysis of the prognostic significance of single characteristics. Prostate 6:81
Schroeder FH, Hop WCJ, Blom JHM, Mostofi FK (1985) Grading of prostatic cancer (III). Multivariate analysis of prognostic parameters. Prostate 7:13
Stöber U, Schmidt U (1980) Zur Klinik des Prostatakarzinoms unter Berücksichtigung zyto-und histomorphologischer Befunde. Urol Int 35:233
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Blom, J.H.M., Ten Kate, F.J.W., Schroeder, F.H. et al. Morphometrically estimated variation in nuclear size. Urol. Res. 18, 93–99 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00302467
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00302467