The use of optical Fourier transforms to diagnose pleomorphism, size and chromatin clumping in nuclear models.

Nuclear features of size, pleomorphism and chromatin clumping are distinctive and quantifiable in the optical Fourier transform of the nucleus. This is shown in photographs of models, tracings and hematoxylin-stained impression smears of various types of nuclei. The size of the transform is inversely proportional to the size of the nucleus. Irregularities in shape (pleomorphism) produce radially symmetric rays of light in the transform. The effect of chromatin clumping is to give a mottled pattern superimposed on the pleomorphism pattern. The transform features can be measured in real time using a ring-wedge or similar detector. These procedures might be used for both automatic screening and objective quantification of diagnoses.