Value of morphometry as an independent prognostic factor in renal cell carcinoma

Nuclear morphometry was performed in 159 adenocarcinomas of the kidney. The mean and SD of the following nuclear parameters were calculated: area, perimeter, major axis, minor axis and a shape factor. Median survival, including all stages, was 72 months and cumulative survival at 5, 10 and 15 years of 50, 42 and 33%, respectively. Values of morphometric parameters, except for shape factor, tend to increase in proportion to stage. Nuclear area was the best parameter to predict the variability in survival time. The Cox regression model was performed for each stage, and the relationship with length of survival time was studied. For stage T1-2 N0 M0, nuclear area was the only variable chosen as an independent significant predictor of outcome. For the rest of the stages, no variables were selected as predictors at any significant level.