Korean J Pathol.  2011 Feb;45(1):87-91.

Morphometric Analysis for Pulmonary Small Cell Carcinoma Using Image Analysis

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, Korea.
  • 2Department of Pathology, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, Korea. syha@gilhospital.com

Abstract

BACKGROUND
There are few studies of how to diagnose small cell lung cancer in cytological tests through morphometric analysis. We tried to measure and analyze characteristics of small cell carcinoma in lung by image analysis.
METHODS
We studied three types of cytologic specimens from 89 patients who were diagnosed with small cell lung cancer by immunohistochemistry. We measured area, perimeter, maximal length and maximal width of cells from small cell carcinoma using image analysis.
RESULTS
In lung aspirates, the nuclear mean area, perimeter, maximal length and maximal width of small cell lung cancer were 218.69 microm2, 55 microm, 18.48 microm and 14.65 microm. In bronchial washings, nuclear measurements were 194.66 microm2, 50.07 microm, 16.27 microm and 14.1 microm. In pleural fluid, values were 177.85 microm2, 48.09 microm, 15.7 microm and 13.37 microm.
CONCLUSIONS
Nuclear size of small cell lung carcinoma is variable and depends on the cytology method. Nuclei are spindle-shaped and larger in small cell carcinoma from lung aspirates than in bronchial washings or pleural fluid. The cytoplasms of the cells in bronchial washings and pleural fluid were swollen. Therefore, one should consider morphologic changes when trying to diagnose small cell lung cancer through cytological tests.

Keyword

Small cell lung carcinoma; Respiratory aspiration; Bronchoalveolar lavage; Image analysis

MeSH Terms

Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Carcinoma, Small Cell
Cytoplasm
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Lung
Respiratory Aspiration
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
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