DNA MEASUREMENT ON HISTOLOGIC SLIDES - DOES IT WORK ON HUMAN TISSUE

OBJECTIVE: To determine the performance of different mathematical meth ods of correcting histograms obtained by densitometric DNA measurement on thin tissue sections for cutting artifacts in different types of h uman tissue. STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of four different euploid-polyploidizing, nonmalignant human tissues (liver, breast cys t with apocrine metaplasia, adenoma of the thyroid, condyloma). The se ction thickness was accurately measured. The algorithms of Bins, McCre ady, Bacus and Haroske were applied to the histograms obtained from DN A measurements. The results were compared to those of the correspondin g single-cell preparations. RESULTS: Correct ploidy equivalents were c alculated using the algorithm of Bins in very thin sections (+/- 3 mu m). This was also the case applying the formulas of McCready and Haros ke to medium-thick sections (5.3-5.9 mu m). The algorithm of Bacus did not lead to reliable results. Measurements on sections thicker than a pproximately 7 mu m led to good results without mathematical correctio n. CONCLUSION: Reliable results can be obtained only when knowing the exact section thickness. In very thin sections the method of Bins lead s to reliable results; in medium-thick sections the methods of McCread y and Haroske result in correct ploidy values. Sections thicker than 7 mu m do not need histogram correction.