CELLULAR DYSPLASIA IN ACQUIRED CYSTIC RENAL-DISEASE - COMPARISON OF HISTOMORPHOMETRICALLY GAUGED NUCLEAR PARAMETERS IN NORMAL KIDNEYS, RENAL-CELL CARCINOMAS AND ACQUIRED CYSTIC KIDNEYS

Nuclear parameters were assessed by computer-assisted image analysis i n the the cells of abnormal epithelial formations in the acquired cyst ic kidneys of two dialysis patients, the proximal and distal tubules o f a normal kidney and two well differentiated renal cell carcinomas. O ne acquired cystic kidney contained many small clear celled foci and a n 0.9 cm-size clear celled lesion and the second one a papillary micro adenoma. The clear celled lesion was cytologically indistinguishable f rom the carcinomas. The histomorphometrically gauged nuclear parameter s were maximal and minimal ferret diameters, averaged ferret diameter, aspect ratio, shape factor, area, volume and specific length and widt h. Statistical evaluation evidenced that the nuclear area, volume, asp ect ratio and shape factor allowed for the distinction between benign and malignant epithelial structures. The medians of the nuclear parame ters of atrophic tubules, cysts, clear celled foci, papillary adenoma and clear celled lesion in the two acquired cystic kidneys deviation f rom those of normal renal tubules and, in increasing order of disparit y, approached those of the carcinomas.