Cytophotometric study of premalignant and malignant cells of the cervix in an approach towards automated cytology.

Based on a cytophotometric procedure in combination with Feulgen reactive DNA and Pap-1 labeled specimens, the DNA values and hematoxylin-dense substances were examined in individual cells from 62 cases of premalignant and malignant lesions of the cervix, in contrast to normal squamous epithelia of 40 cases and 500 normal lyphocytes. The range of DNA values for the cells from benign proliferation and mild dysplasia cases was within a normal diploid-tetraploidy. In contrast, cases with carcinoma in situ and microinvasive carcinoma exhibited a DNA range which extended beyond hypertetraploidy with many cellspossessing a DNA value in excess of hexaploidy. Marked dysplasia from 11 cases also showed the same DNA range as carcinoma in situ. Our decision criteria derived from thresholding DNA value may be useful in an automatic cancer diagnostic test. In an aid to the manual measurement, an automatic glass fibrooptic system is now in preparation in an approach towards automation of uterine cytology for scanning of malignant cells.