Nuclear morphometry of epitheliosis and intraduct carcinoma of the breast.

Nuclear morphometry has been studied by a simple visual method in order to obtain an objective criterion for distinguishing epitheliosis from intraduct carcinoma in tissue sections. Nuclear area was found to be superior to the measurement of major or minor axes. Estimated area (major X minor axes), although less accurate than measured area, gave equally good discrimination. The best discrimination was obtained using the differences between the mean estimated nuclear area of the diseased duct and a normal duct in the same section. Using a difference of 20 micron2 as the dividing line, epitheliosis and intraduct carcinoma could be correctly classified by this criterion alone in 86% of the lesions studied.