[Description of the shape of carcinomatous nodules of the breast by means of high degree polynomial equations and Fourier harmonic analysis].

Breast cancer nodule shape has been investigated by two analytical procedures: upper degree polynomials and harmonic Fourier analysis. An automized method (TV camera interfaced with a computer) has been employed to find the coefficients of kth order equation giving the best fit. Then the difference between real node contour and function curve has been calculated and submitted to harmonic analysis. This gives the sine/cosine coefficients of the two series and the amplitude of the harmonics. The results point out that no difference exists between metastatic and non metastatic tumors and suggest that parametrized descriptors calculated may represent a peculiar behaviour in the growth of the tumor.