Cytomorphometric characterization of NHL(non-Hodgkin's lymphomas) of low and high grade malignancy

From semithin sections of 12 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (3 lymphocytic, 3 centrocytic, 3 lymphoblastic, 3 centroblastic m.L.) morphometric parameters of nucleus and cytoplasm, including size, shape, roundness, number and size of nucleoli were measured. Statistical evaluation of the data showed that the lymphoma cells mainly differ in their size, less in their shape. Nucleolar parameters are of greater value than contour features in discriminating the four groups of NHL. With growing grade of malignancy an increasing nuclear and cellular polymorphism was observed. Moreover, measurement of the feature "maximal nuclear diameter" on paraffin sections from 42 further cases showed the possibility of morphometric discrimination of low and high malignant NHL in histopathological diagnostics.