Morphometric analytical evaluators of lymphoid populations in nonneoplastic lymph nodes.

A morphometric analysis using an Apple II microcomputer and shape analytical morphometry (SAM) software was performed of the nuclear shape in the lymphoid population of normal (nonneoplastic) lymph nodes to provide baseline parameters useful for distinguishing between different subtypes of lymphomas. Fourier harmonic analysis and two indices, a contour asymmetric evaluator (CAE) and a shape asymmetric evaluator (SAE), are proposed as non-dimensional shape parameters. Results obtained with the CAE and SAE indices indicate that they represent sensitive shape descriptors able to reveal even subtle irregularities of nuclear outline. With these parameters, centrocyte nuclei were easily differentiated from those of all other lymphoid cells while an interesting close relationship was found between lymphocytes and centroblasts. Lymphocyte nuclear shape was shown to be less regular than generally reported, suggesting the existence of subtle differences between stimulated and unstimulated nuclei. Immunoblast nuclei were shown to have the most regular shapes.