Nuclear size and shape in fine needle aspiration biopsy samples of the prostate

OBJECTIVE: To study, the potential of nuclear size and shape estimates in i nterpreting fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples of the prostate. STUDY DESIGN: Morphometry was used to outline nuclei of prostrate cells. Ce ll groups were selected by an experienced cytologist. RESULTS: The mean area of nuclei in the most atypical cell groups among def initely malignant samples (n =17) varied from 26.3 to 93.3 mu m(2) and in n ormal prostrate cells (n = 10)from 15.6 to 33. 7 mu m(2). Perfect distincti on of definitely benign and slightly atypical samples (n =13) from definite ly malignant samples was possible where the samples were,characterized by t h weighted means of the mean nuclear areas of the cell groups in the sample s. The means of individual cell groups allowed correct distinction in only 84.8% of cell groups. Shape factors did not have any diagnostic value. CONCLUSION: Morphometric nuclear size estimates from ethanol-fixed FNAB sam ples of file prostate are of diagnostic value and call potentially be used as part of multivariate diagnostic models when selected by an experienced c ytologist according to strict criteria. However measurement should be done from several cell groups (are least three of the most-atypical cell groups) in each sample.