Proliferative lesions of the breast lobules. A morphometric analysis.

A morphometric study was carried out on proliferative lesions of the breast lobules, including cases of atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) and infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC) with axillary metastases (META). Seven nuclear parameters were assessed, such as perimeter, area, shape factor, diameter of circle of equivalent area, longest axis, shortest axis and axes ratio. In comparison with nuclei of normal lobules, a statistically significant increase in the mean values of 5 nuclear parameters was observed in all pathologic lesions examined, whereas shape factor and axes ratio exhibited no significant difference. Nuclear area was found to be the most valuable parameter. No difference was observed between nuclear estimates of ALH and LCIS. Mean nuclear values were higher in ILC cases than in in-situ lesions, but no difference was detected between ILC and axillary metastases.