Epithelial compartment volume density: a proposal of a prognosis score in endometrial adenocarcinoma

The point count method was used to calculate the relative volume density of the epithelial, stromal, and luminal compartments of endometrial adenocarcinoma, according to stereological principles. All three compartments could be correlated with survival in a significant way. The relative volume density of the epithelial compartment further correlated with the histologic grade of the tumor, but not with the clinical stage of disease or age of the patient. Providing the pathologist with a 40% relative volume density of the epithelial compartment as a decision line, this parameter may be useful as a prognostic factor. A prognosis scoring system on a pretherapeutic and postsurgical-pathologic level is proposed and its utility applied to the study group.