Microphotometric DNA analysis in moderate dysplasia of the uterine cervix. Correlation to the progression and regression of the lesion.

Nuclear DNA content was determined by microphotometry in 27 cases of moderate dysplasia of the uterine cervix. All these cases were followed from one to ten years to study the biological behavior of moderate dysplasia in relation to cervical carcinogenesis. Ten of them showed progression to carcinoma in situ during a period of one to six years (median 34.8 months) and 17 cases showed regression to inflammation and normalcy during a period of one to ten years (median 44.2 months). DNA analysis was performed both on initial cervical smear and on representative smears collected during follow-up. Amongst ten cases which progressed to malignancy, nine had aneuploid DNA pattern and one had polyploid DNA pattern throughout the follow-up period. Amongst 17 cases which regressed to inflammation, 11 had euploid and six polyploid DNA pattern. The observation that moderate dysplasia with aneuploid DNA value often develops into carcinoma in situ in contrast to dysplasia with euploid or polyploid DNA value strengthens the conception that DNA aneuploidy may be considered as 'high risk indicator' for cervical precancerous lesions.