A morphometrical analysis of dysplasia in small adenomas of the large intestine

In a morphometrical study of 40 colorectal adenomas less than 10 mm in diameter and of 10 specimens of normal mucosa, it was found that nuclear size, perimeter and shape-factor of the epithelial cells were significantly different in neoplastic when compared with normal tissues. The same was found for the volume fraction of stroma, gland spaces, goblet and non-goblet epithelium, for the gland diameter, nuclear stratification height and stratification index, but not for the epithelial height nor the total volume fraction of the epithelium. In a multivariate analysis, stratification index and nuclear size of the epithelial cells contributed most significantly to determination of the histological grade of dysplasia in adenomas. By the combination of these two morphometric variables 75% of all adenomas could be correctly allocated to the grade of dysplasia.