Mean nuclear area of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck using image cytometry.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if mean nuclear area (MNA) in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN) correlate with the TNM system and histologic grade. STUDY DESIGN: We measured MNA by image cytometry on 74 primary SCCHN. Fify-five had primary surgery, 16 had radiotherapy, and 3 and both as their primary treatment. RESULTS: The mean MNA was 47.85 microm2 (range, 20.5-84.8). Tumor size, nodal status and histologic grade were, respectively: T1 = 13, T2 = 29, T3 = 18, T4 = 14; N0 = 53, N1 = 15, N2 = 5, N3 = 1; 17 = well, 38 = moderate, 19 = poorly differentiated. Spearman rank and Kruskal-Wallis tests for MNA/histologic grade, MNA/tumor size, MNA/nodal status and MNA/site were calculated; only MNA/node was statistically significant (P<.05). CONCLUSION: MNA increases in primary SCCHN as nodal involvement increases. This may reflect that high MNA may be a biologic marker of primary SCCHN with a poorer prognosis.