nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio

nu·cle·ar-·cy·to·plas·mic ra·ti·o

ratio of volume of nucleus to volume of cytoplasm, fairly constant for a particular cell type and usually increased in malignant neoplasms.

nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio

A crude parameter used in cytology and surgical pathology, in which interphase (i.e., nondividing) nuclei are proportionately larger than the surrounding cytoplasm, a finding which is often increased in malignant cells.