Summary
The grading of nuclear atypia has a great and well recognized value when predicting the malignancy of neoplastic processes. Although the basic criteria for the grading are generally agreed upon, in the individual case, the final judgement is to some extent still a matter of subjectivity, which naturally impairs reproducibility. The present paper describes a method for quantification of variability of nuclear size and Feulgen-stainability. By plotting the mean optical density against the area value in a scatterdiagram, a cluster is obtained, the size of which reflects the degree of nuclear atypia. The measurements are performed in tissue sections using stage scanning cytophotometry. A computer program — HISTOSCAN — has been developed which enables measurements in highly cellular tissues. The system is also insensitive to the influence of light scattering, a factor of importance when measuring in tissue sections. The performance of the program is tested in both imprints and tissue sections.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bjelkenkrantz K, Herder A, Gröntoft O, Stål O (1981) Cytophotometric characterization of the WHO grades of transitional cell neoplasms. In preparation
Busch C, Engberg A, Norlén BJ, Stenkvist B (1977) Malignancy grading of epithelial bladder tumours. Scand J Urol Nephrol 11:143–148
Böhm N, Sprenger E, Schlüter G, Sandritter W (1968) Proportionalitätsfehler bei der Feulgen-Hydrolyse. Histochemie 15:194–203
Duijndam WAL, Van Duijn P (1973) The dependance of the absorbance of the final chromophore formed in the Feulgen-Schiff reaction on the pH of the medium. Histochemie 35:373–375
Duijndam WAL, Van Duijn P (1975) The interaction of apurinic acid aldehyde groups with pararosaniline in the Feulgen-Schiff and related staining procedures. Histochemistry 44:67–85
Duijndam WAL, Smeulders AWM, Van Duijn P, Verweij AC (1980a) Optical errors in scanning stage absorbance cytophotometry. I Procedures for correcting apparent integrated absorbance values for distributional, glare and diffraction errors. J Histochem Cytochem 28:388–394
Duijndam WAL, Van Duijn P, Riddersma SH (1980b) Optical errors in scanning stage absorbance cytophotometry. II Application of correction factors for residual distributional error, glare and diffraction error in practical cytophotometry. J Histochem Cytochem 28:395–400
Graumann W (1953) Zur Standardisierung des Schiffschen Reagens. Z Wissenschaftl Mikrosk 61:225–226
Hellquist H (1981) Dysplasia of the vocal cords. Linköping University Medical Dissertations No 105
Mareš V, Van der Ploeg M (1980) Cytophotometric re-investigation of DNA content in Purkinje cells of the rat cerebellum. Histochemistry 69:161–167
Van der Ploeg M, Van den Broek K, Smeulders AWM, Vossepoel AM, Van Duijn P (1977) HIDACSYS: computer programs for interactive scanning cytophotometry. Histochemistry 54:273–288
Van der Ploeg M, Van den Broek K, Mitchell JP (1979) Dual wavelength scanning cytophotometry (Bicoscan). Histochemistry 62:29–43
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by the Swedish Cancer Society, grant no. 1284-B80-02X
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bjelkenkrantz, K., Stål, O., Gröntoft, O. et al. HISTOSCAN: Computer program for cytophotometry in tissue sections and its application in the evaluation of nuclear atypia. Histochemistry 73, 353–362 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00495649
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00495649