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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
In Vivo, Percutaneous, Needle Based, Optical Coherence Tomography of Renal Masses
Published on: March 30, 2015
Prognostic significance of nuclear morphometry in renal cell carcinoma
1Department of Pathology, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey.
Objective:
To assess nuclear morphometry as a predictor of prognosis in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Patients And Methods:
The study included 65 consecutive patients with RCC who underwent radical nephrectomy and were followed up for a median (range) of 80 (27-138) months. Nuclear morphometry was assessed using a computer-assisted image analysis system on histological sections and characterized by five nuclear variables (area, perimeter, major and minor diameter, and form factor). From the patients' records and pathology specimens, the clinicopathological prognostic variables (histological type, Fuhrman grade and pathological stage) were recorded. The proliferative activity was assessed using immunohistochemical staining with Ki-67 antibody.
Results:
Higher values of mean nuclear area, perimeter, and major and minor diameter were significantly related to higher nuclear grade, proliferative activity and advanced tumour stage. They were significant predictors of disease progression and survival, together with grade, stage, sarcomatoid histology and proliferative activity. Of all significant prognostic factors predicting progression-free survival, only stage was independent (T4 vs T1, hazard ratio 6.55, 95% CI 1.63-26.13, P=0.008).
Conclusion:
Although the significance of these preliminary results must not be overstated, nuclear morphometry might provide significant prognostic information in predicting survival and tumours at high risk of progression in RCC.
