Purpose: Morphometric distinction of renal oncocytoma and renal cell carcinoma was attempted.
Materials and methods: Nuclear morphometric measurements were done from sections of 16 histologically diagnosed renal oncocytomas and renal cell carcinoma controls (grade 1 or 2, stage T1 to 2N0M0).
Results: Oncocytomas could be distinguished from carcinomas on the basis of nuclear morphometry in more than 80% of the cases. Especially, the shape descriptors (form factors) were significantly different between oncocytomas and carcinomas.
Conclusions: Morphometrically determined nuclear shape descriptors can be used to support diagnostic decisions in problematic cases.