The new parameters of histological pictures of tumourous limphangiogenesis: prognostic potential of computer-assisted morphometry according to the data of the examination of 48 preparations of papillary cancer of thyroid gland of childhood
The objective of investigation was to elucidate the capability of the image processing using the original software, to predict the occurrence of regional lymphatic metastases in 48 sporadic thyroid cancer patients. The materials for the study were frozen pediatric thyroid tumors stained with D2-40 immunomarker. The developed software produced 5 image parameters, represented as digits: the relative area occupied with the vessels; homogeneity of distribution of a network in space; relative part of small objects of vessels; relative part of large vessels; average value of chromaticity of the lymphatic vessels. We applied StatPlus and Statistica software packages (free trial versions) for statistical calculations. According to the calculation of the simple linear regression model, only two image parameters were statistically significant as predictors for the outcome, which was the occurrence of the regional lymphatic metastases. These were the relative part of small objects of vessels and the relative part of large vessels [Two-sided P = 0,0158, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = -10,417584 to 1,13758; Р = 0,0224, 95% CI = -20,249792 to -1,619872, respectively]. We suggest that the image processing techniques, based on computer-aided histomorphometry, can be a valuable tool for the outcome prediction mathematical models in the sphere of lymphangiogenesis research and elsewhere.