Microphotometric nuclear DNA analysis in cervical dysplasia of the uterine cervix: its relation to the progression to malignancy and regression to normalcy.

The present study was attempted to reveal the predictive value of DNA ploidy pattern of uterine cervical dysplasia cases in relation to cervical carcinogenesis. Microphotometric nuclear DNA analysis using Feulgen stain was carried out in 310 cervical smears of 80 dysplasia cases consisting of 53 cases which progressed to malignancy and 27 cases which regressed to inflammation or normalcy during their follow-up periods. Aneuploid DNA pattern was observed in initial as well as follow-up smears in 69.8% of cases of the progressive group, and in 7.4% of cases of the regressive group. This difference is statistically highly significant (chi 2 27.88, p less than 0.001). In the progressive group, an aneuploid DNA value was observed in 40.0% of mild dysplasia, 71.9% of moderate dysplasia and 90.9% of severe dysplasia. In the regressive group, DNA aneuploidy was observed in only 9.1% of moderate dysplasia. This difference is statistically significant. These findings indicate that an aneuploid DNA value is a risk indicator for malignant potential of dysplasia cases.