DNA cytometry in diagnostic cytology of the prostate gland

BACKGROUND: Differential analysis and cytological grouping of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples of the prostate are important in practice. We used image analytical DNA cytometry to achieve this and also studied the best method of interpretation of the histograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two FNAB samples of the prostate were stained with Feulgen stain and nuclear DNA histograms were produced by image cytometry. The most atypical cell groups were selected for measurements. Also, free epithelial cells between cell groups were studied. The cells presented in the histograms were grouped according to the nuclear DNA content and by application of different gates of observation for diploid status. RESULTS: Several DNA histogram features (histogram classification categories, benign and malignant histogram patterns, presence of >5c-7c cells) showed significant relationships to differential diagnosis. Highly aneuploid (>5c-7c) cells had the potential for distinguishing a progressive-type of prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: The fraction of tetraploid and aneuploid histograms increased from atypical but benign to definitely malignant samples. DNA histograms have potential in the differential diagnosis and evaluation of the progressive character of prostate cancer.