Quantitative Morphology as a Prognostic Factor in Feline Spontaneous Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas

In a study on cytological specimens from 30 cats with histologically confi rmed cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, the morphometric variables mean nuclear area (MNA, μm2), mean nuclear perimeter (MNP, μm), mean nuclear diameter (D mean, μm), minimum nuclear diameter (D min, μm) and maximum nuclear diameter (D max, μm) were studied and compared to metastases in regional lymph nodes. The mean values of these parameters were signifi cantly greater in cats with lymph node metastases compared to parameters of tumour cells from cats which were lymph node-negative. A signifi cant positive correlation was observed between all studied morphometric parameters and metastases in the regional lymph nodes. In conclusion, computer -assisted nuclear morphometry could be used as a prognostic method in the diagnosis of spontaneous feline cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas.