QUANTITATIVE HISTOLOGICAL METHOD OF DETERMINING THE PROPORTIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS OF THYROID TISSUE

Abstract

Microscopic sections of Helly-fixed, Azan-stained thyroid tissue are projected onto a white paper on which is drawn an arbitrary straight line. The % of the length of the line covered by follicle cells, colloid and stroma are measured. This represents accurately the % of these components in the total section (checked by tracing the section and cutting out the components and weighing the paper tracings). When adequate samples are sectioned, this method permits estimation of the distr. of these components throughout the entire gland. The activity of the gland is best estimated from the % of epithelium.