Nuclear morphometric study of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)

Background: Assessment of nuclear morphology is crucial for the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) constitute a heterogenous group of lymphoid neoplasms that vary in clinical behavior, histology, immunology and genetic profile. The diversity makes it difficult to diagnose accurately and reproducibly under light microscopy. The nuclear features play a major role in categorizing non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Materials and methods: The present study was conducted for a period of two years in the Department of Oral Pathology, MNR dental College and Hospital, Sangareddy, Telangana, India. We encountered only three cases of Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas and so we have borrowed the some specimens of NHL from other hospitals in Hyderabad, India. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H and E) stained histological sections were selected and assessed for nuclear area, perimeter and nuclear size of 40 nuclei of tumour cells were measured using the Windows® based image analysis software Results: Total number of cases in our study was 15. The mean nuclear area, perimeter and nuclear size of neoplastic cells were studied. In our study, the mean nuclear area, perimeter and nuclear size of neoplastic cells were significantly high in large cell lymphomas as compared to intermediate cells and small cell lymphoma. P value was significant. Conclusion: Our study supports the assumption that nuclear morphometry offers a more objective and reproducible diagnostic method for subcategorizing lymphoid tumors than is currently possible by conventional histopathological techniques.