Computer-assisted Fractal Analysis of Spontaneous Canine Mammary Gland Tumours on Cytologic Smears

Fifty-two spontaneous canine mammary gland tumours (fibroadenomas, tubulopapillary carcinomas, solid carcinomas, anaplastic carcinomas, fibrosarcomas, liposarcomas and osteosarcomas) were selected and analysed by computer-assisted nuclear fractal analysis on Hemacolor stained cytologic specimens. Computerized cytomorphometry was performed and the fractal dimension of the studied nuclear surfaces was assessed. A minimum of hundred nuclei per lesion was examined. The statistical analysis revealed significant differences between benign and malignant neoplasms, but not between different types of malignant canine mammary gland neoplasms. The results indicated that computer-assisted fractal analysis could be used as an additional method for differentiating between benign and malignant canine mammary gland tumours on cytologic specimens.