FREQUENZA DEI NUCLEOLI E VARIAZIONI DELLA CROMATINA NELL'EPITELIO GHIANDOLARE MAMMARIO IN CONDIZIONI NORMALI E PATOLOGICHE

Abstract

After a brief description of normal breast nuclei, the nuclear changes observed in benign and malignant neoplastic diseases are reported. No significant alterations have been demonstrated in fibroadenomas, whereas an increase in number and size of nucleoli was seen in those forms histologically classified as adenofibrosis. In these cases, a statistical work carried out on data from nucleoli count suggests that such changes do not have a casual occurrence. In malignant mammary tumours, on the contrary, a caryologic study gave evidence of well manifest and recognizable nuclear alterations both in resting nuclei and mitotic forms. It is concluded for a diagnostical value of the caryologic method in malignant mammary tumours. It is also remarked that nuclear changes similar to those observed in mammary adenofibrosis had already been described in forms clinically considered as precancerous lesions of the blander, skin, portio and ovary.