A difference in nuclear morphometry when frozen rather than fresh tissue is studied

Since the value of nuclear morphometry as a prognostic indicator in gynecologic malignancies is beginning to be explored, the authors attempted to see whether there was a difference in the nuclear morphometric features of size, shape and summed optical density in endometrial cancer when touch preparations were made from fresh versus frozen tissue.

Fifty specimens were obtained from twenty-five consecutive patients with endometrial cancer. Each patient had an air dried touch preparation made from fresh and frozen tissue. Values were compared using paired samples T-test. Logistic regression was used as a type of multivariate analysis. Nuclear size (NUSZ), shape (NUSH), and summed optical density (NUSD) were calculated by image analysis.

Mean NUSZ was shown to be significantly larger in fresh specimens (117.3 microns2) when compared to the frozen specimens (89.3 microns2) p < 0.001. Mean NUSH was significantly closed to round in frozen specimens (15.21) when compared to the fresh specimens (15.55) p = 0.038. Mean NSUD was shown to be significantly larger in frozen specimens (128.6) as compared to fresh specimens (120.2) p = 0.045. Stage, NUSZ was NUSD from fresh tissue were shown to be independent predictors of recurrent disease.

The type of tissue (fresh versus frozen) from which touch preparations are made is important. Significant differences in NUSZ, NUSH, and NUSD were seen between fresh and frozen specimens. While NUSZ and NUSD from fresh specimens were predictive of recurrence, the same parameters from frozen specimens were not. A larger prospective trial is underway to determine the validity of these preliminary conclusions.