Prognostic histomorphometry in colorectal adenocarcinoma

In order to examine the use of morphometry in the prognosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma, histologic material from 30 patients was analyzed. The volume-weighted nuclear volume (Vvnuclei), mean nucleolar diameters (dnucleoli) and their standard deviation (snucleoli) were determined in each case. These variables were compared between patients who died of the disease and those who did not. Patients with disease-free survival had larger Vvnuclei than did those who died of their disease (P < .02). These data suggest that a neoplastic specimen from colorectal adenocarcinoma may contain quantifiable nuclear characteristics that may be prognostically useful.