Predictive value of morphological nuclear parameters and DNA ploidy pattern in precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix.

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the supportive role of image cytometry and DNA ploidy analysis in the precancerous and cancerous lesions of the uterine cervix, the present study was performed on 45 cervical smears, initially diagnosed as dysplasia and malignant. Twenty normal and inflammatory smears were taken as a control for the study. Morphometric parameters and microphotometric DNA measurements were performed on 50 cells in each case. On the basis of nuclear area dysplastic lesions were categorised into two groups i.e. low grade lesions having nuclear area upto 85 sq. mu m and high grade lesions having nuclear area above 85 sq. mu m. The results were compared with DNA ploidy analysis. It is revealed from the study that 85.7% low grade lesions with diploid and polyploid DNA, value mostly regressed to inflammation and 78.5% high grade lesion with aneuploid DNA value progressed to malignancy. However, initial malignant cases having aneuploid DNA value exhibit invasive cancer during their follow up. It indicates that combination of morphometry and DNA cytometry can be used as an adjunct to cytologic diagnosis to predict the biologic outcome of the lesions.