Correlation of DNA content of laryngeal epithelial lesions to degree of malignancy.

Abstract

PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to determine the role of DNA content in laryngeal epithelial lesions of different degrees of malignancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 53 lesions were studied, which included five benign tumors, 18 dysplasias, and 30 carcinomas of different degrees of differentiation and clinical stage. In all cases, the DNA content was determined by microspectrophotometry of paraffin-embedded Feulgen-stained biopsies. RESULTS We found significant differences between the DNA-content histograms corresponding to each lesion group studied. Of special interest was the transition from moderate to severe dysplasia (characterized by a striking increase in the G2M-phase cells) and the transition from severe dysplasia to carcinoma (characterized by a brusque change in the modal ploidy of the lesion). CONCLUSION The determination of DNA content, and study of DNA histogram, will help to assess degree of malignancy in epithelial lesions of the larynx.