Abstract

Biological behavior of malignant tumors has been assessed by morphological grading, clinical staging, and estimating other tumor markers. Recently DNA ploidy measured by flow cytometry and image analyser has been suggested as an additional useful indicator of the tumor behavior. In order to extract useful tumor cell-specific information in ovarian mucinous tumors, DNA contents and other morphologic parameters were measured by image analysis and DNA ploidy was also measured by flow cytometry. In all cases of cystadenoma, DNA diploidies were observed. In borderline malignancy, DNA diploidies were chiefly observed except one case of polyploidy. In true malignancy, DNA aneuploidies were observed except one case of polyploidy and two cases of diploidies by image analysis, and except four cases of diploides and one cas of polyploidy by flow cytometry. The statistical significance were observed in DNA ploidy pattern by image analysis. In nuclear areas, perimeters and major axis, statistical significance were not observed. These results suggest that DNA ploidy pattern are more or less independent parameter as an additional useful indicator of the histological grade of malignancy and that image analysis are better than flow cytometry in detecting DNA aneuploidy.

• Keywords: Ovary;Mucinous tumors;DNA ploidy;Flow cytometry;Image analysis