Quantitative analysis of nuclear chromatin distribution in uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma, LSIL, HSIL and ASCUS.

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The chromatin pattern of nuclei is one of the most important criteria for cytological diagnosis. The quantitative assessment of nuclear chromatin distribution using image analysis by computer was applied for objective classification for cervical squamous epithelial lesions. An image analysis program was developed as a plug-in macro program of an image processing software, ImageJ. The radial distribution (RD) value that represents the gradient of the staining intensity from the center to the edge of a nucleus was defined as an index of the chromatin distribution. The RD values of LSIL (Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion), HSIL (High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) and squamous cell carcinoma were significantly difference among these three categories, and the RD value of HSIL was maximum. In the cervical squamous epithelial lesion, the RD value could be useful as an index for malignancy.