Table 1.

Correlation between estimates of tumuor stroma ratio obtained semi-quantitatively and by stereology

	Spearman’s correlation All sections (n = 129)	Spearman’s correlation Deepest section (n = 43)	Spearman’s correlation Random section A (n = 43)	Spearman’s correlation Random section B (n = 43)
Stereology (whole tumour area) and semi-quantitative method	0.424, p < 0.001	0.461, p < 0.002	0.230, p = 0.139	0.551, p < 0.001
Stereology (hot-spot sampled area) and semi-quantitative method	0.579, p < 0.001	0.621, p < 0.001	0.598, p < 0.001	0.501, p < 0.001

Semi-quantitative tumour stroma ratio was estimated by conventional microscopy. The stereological estimation was done either in the whole tumour area of the section or in the hot-spot sampled area. Correlation for all sections (n = 129) and for individual tumour sections (n = 43)