STEREOLOGICAL ESTIMATES OF NUCLEAR VOLUME IN CARCINOMA OF THE AMPULLA OF VATER

The stereological estimate of mean nuclear volume is an objective and reproducible method of measurement of nuclear size in terms of absolute volume. We have used this method to study carcinomas of the ampulla of Vater. Our study includes 21 cases-five papillary and 16 intestinal-all treated by the same surgical procedure. The volume-weighted mean nuclear volume (nuclear nu(v)BAR) and the mean nuclear area were calculated. The mean volumes of nuclear nu(v)BAR were significantly different (P < 0.01) between the papillary and intestinal carcinomas, but no differences were found between normal mucosa and papillary carcinoma. The variance was significantly larger in the intestinal group than the papillary and normal groups. The nuclear nu(v)BAR showed a significant association with survival, larger nuclear nu(v)BAR (> 150-mu-m3) being associated with a lower survival rate.