[Karyometric analysis of pathologic changes in follicular cells of the thyroid gland]

Using cytometry it is shown, that distribution histograms of the values of follicular cell nuclear areas depend upon the nature of the thyroid disease. Dome-like distribution was observed in follicular and papillary cancer, while for follicular adenoma as well as for nodular colloid and diffuse toxic goiter or for autoimmune thyroiditis exponential-like dependence was typical. Distribution histograms under normal conditions had the form of a column. The phenomena observed can be used as an additional diagnostic criterion of malignant transformation of thyroid follicular cells.