Microphotometric DNA analysis in mild and moderate dysplasia of the uterine cervix: a retrospective study.

Twenty six cases of mild and moderate dysplasia of uterine cervix were retrospectively subjected to microphotometric study for nuclear DNA estimation in order to correlate their ploidy pattern with biological behaviour at initial presentation and during follow up intervals ranging from six months to six years (median-30.8 months). Of these, fourteen cases had progressed to malignancy, five persisted as dysplasia and seven had regressed to normalcy or inflammation. DNA value of these cases revealed aneuploidy in ten cases whereas polyploid and euploid DNA pattern were observed in eight cases each. Of the ten aneuploid cases eight (80.0 per cent) progressed to malignancy while two persisted as dysplasia. Of the sixteen polyploid and euploid cases, only six (37.8%) progressed to malignancy. However, five of these six cases developed aneuploidy during follow up or at the point of progression to malignancy. The findings indicate that aneuploidy in mild and moderate dysplasia cases is a reliable "high risk indicator".