Abstract

DNA aneuploid cells are poorly characterized in both biochemical and morphological terms. This study was performed to see the relationship between DNA ploidy and morphometric and photometric nuclear features. DNA contents of tumor cells were measured by image cytometry in 46 cases of micro- or early invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Also measured were nuclear area, perimeter, maximum diameter, chromatin pattern index, and staining intensity. Among the 46 cases, 20 cases which had both DNA diploid and aneuploid cell subpopulations were selected, and the two subpopulations were discriminated statistically. Multivariate discriminant analysis seperated clearly the two subpopulations, whereas univariate analysis failed. For canonical discriminant function, nuclear area was selected first, followed by staining intensity in each case. Other variables selected afterwards were nuclear perimeter, maximum diameter, and/or chromatin pattern index in random fashion. Correlation coefficient between the canoncial discriminant function and the variables were 0.20~0.40 for nuclear area and 0.25 or less for the others. The above results suggest that DNA ploidy is a parameter more or less independent on individual morphometric and photometric parameters.

• Keywords: Discriminant analysis;DNA ploidy;Morphometry;Photometry;