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Possibility of correcting image cytometric nuclear DNA (ploidy) measurements in tissue sections. Insights from
1Department of Pathology, Good Samaritan Hospital, Puyallup, Washington 98371-0192, USA.
Objective:
To describe, validate and apply a computer simulation of corpuscle sectioning to determine which assumptions are compatible with the possibility of correction.
Study Design:
A computer program was written in PASCAL and run on a personal computer.
Results:
Correction is practical in the case of spherical nuclei with homogeneous intranuclear DNA and a constant internuclear DNA concentration, even if section thickness is uneven or inaccurate. Correction is not possible in the case of marked nuclear ellipticity: mild cases are correctable, although subpopulations in a mixed-ploidy sample would not be distinguished. Correction is possible in the case of spherical (but not ellipsoidal) nuclei with a variable internuclear DNA concentration, and subpopulations in a mixed-ploidy sample would be distinguishable if sufficiently different. If the DNA is markedly concentrated in one part of the nucleus, overcorrection results.
Conclusion:
The results clarify the factors that limit correction of image cytometric measurements of ploidy in tissue sections. A new method of correcting ploidy measurements in tissue sections is usable.