Computerized interactive morphometry. A study of malignant mesothelioma and mesothelial hyperplasia in pleural biopsy specimens.

A morphometric study of 11 pleural malignant mesotheliomas and 11 pleural reactive mesothelial proliferations is reported. Pleural biopsy specimens of these lesions were studied with a new system of video-based computerized interactive morphometry that allows the comparison of real-time images of nuclear profiles with computer-generated graphic standards for the purpose of estimating their diameters. Malignant mesotheliomas had nuclear profile diameters (NPDs) ranging from 4 to 14 micron and a mean NPD of 9.6 +/- 0.5 micron. Reactive mesothelial proliferations had NPDs ranging from 4 to 12 micron, but exhibited a significantly smaller mean NPD of 6.4 +/- 0.2 micron. The potential technical advantages of computerized interactive morphometry over other morphometric methods are discussed.