Semi-automated diagnosis of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia grade 2 by the measurement of acid labile DNA in cytologically normal nuclei.

Cytologically normal and abnormal nuclei in cervical smears from patients with cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 were assessed for their acid labile DNA content using the Feulgen technique. Semi-automated measurements were performed blind using a Vickers M86 microdensitometer (Vickers Instruments, Ltd., York, UK) interfaced to a Research Machines 380Z microcomputer (Research Machines, Ltd., Oxford, UK). They showed that significantly elevated levels of rapidly hydrolyzed DNA were present in both abnormal and normal looking cell fractions. Although the levels were lower in the nuclei of normal appearance, they were still significant over the early part of the hydrolysis profile. It is suggested that because these nuclei represent a more accessible fraction in CIN grade 2 smears they could prove extremely helpful in the cytodiagnosis of cervical neoplasms.