[Stereoscopy in the pathologic diagnosis of adenoma and carcinoma of colon]

Quantitative analysis of 10 cases of normal mucosa, 15 cases of villous adenoma and 20 cases of carcinoma of colon was studied by stereoscopic technique (Coherent Test System A 100). The results showed that there was statistical significance (P less than 0.01) in 6 parameters including Volume Density (Vv), Surface Density (Sv), Mean Diameter (D), Number Density (Nv) of nucleus and Mean Curvature Density (Kv) and Surface Curvature (K) of the gland, The new method of pathologic morphometry to differentiate adenoma from carcinoma was provided for clinical diagnosis. This method is more scientific, not only being different from the classical pathologic diagnosis, but also avoiding personal subjectivity. Colon adenoma was divided into two subtypes (A and B) according to the threshold of parameter. (Type A below the threshold and Type B above the threshold). Type A is well differentiated adenoma, but Type B tends towards malignancy. The higher the stereoscopic parameters, the higher the malignant tendency. Histologic parameters showed the objective index in pathologic diagnosis.