Predictive variables for the biological behaviour of basal cell carcinoma of the face: relevance of morphometry of the nuclei

• Published in: British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 147 - 150
• Main Authors: Appel, T., Bierhoff, E., Appel, K., von Lindern, J.-J., Bergé, S., Niederhagen, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Londonc Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Basal cell carcinoma; Biological and medical sciences; Biological behaviour; Biology; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - ultrastructure; Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure; Cell Size; Dentistry; Dermatology; Facial Neoplasms - pathology; Facial Neoplasms - ultrastructure; Female; Forecasting; Humans; Image Cytometry; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Male; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Video; Middle Aged; Morphometric analysis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - ultrastructure; Nuclei; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - ultrastructure; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Recurrence; Basal cell carcinoma; Nuclei; Morphometric analysis; Biological behaviour; Human; Skin disease; Treatment; Stomatology; Surgery; Malignant tumor; Behavior; Face; Predictive factor; Morphometry
• ISSN: 0266-4356; 1532-1940
• DOI: 10.1016/S0266-4356(03)00074-3

We did a morphometric analysis of 130 histological sections of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the face to find out whether morphometric variables in the structure of the nuclei of BCC cells could serve as predictors of the biological behaviour. We considered the following variables: maximum and minimum diameters, perimeter, nuclear area and five form factors that characterise and quantify the shape of a structure (axis ratio, shape factor, nuclear contour index, nuclear roundness and circumference ratio). We did a statistical analysis of primary and recurring tumours and four histology-based groups (multifocal superficial BCCs, nodular BCCs, sclerosing BCCs and miscellaneous forms) using a two-sided t test for independent samples. Multifocal superficial BCCs showed significantly smaller values for the directly measured variables (maximum and minimum diameters, perimeter and nuclear area). Morphometry could not distinguish between primary and recurring tumours.