Nuclear and nucleolar areas: a quantitative assessment of endometrial neoplasia

Quantitative methods were used to determine ultrastructural area differences in nuclei and nucleoli of normal proliferative endometrium as well as grades 1, 2, and 3 adenocarcinomas. Nuclear area distribution curves differed significantly among all groups. No significant differences were observed between nucleolar area distribution curves of normal proliferative and grade 1 adenocarcinomas. However, significant differences were found among distribution curves of all other groups. The computer-assisted high resolution ultrastructural examination provides a sensitive means of evaluating differences in nuclear and nucleolar areas of cells in normal and cancerous states.