Diagnostic DNA-flow- vs. -image-cytometry in effusion cytology

Anal Cell Pathol. 2002;24(1):5-15. doi: 10.1155/2002/840210.

Abstract

Aims: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of flow- and image-cytometry for the detection of DNA-aneuploidy as a marker for malignant cells in effusions.

Methods: 200 effusions (80 tumor cell-positive, 74 negative and 46 cytologically equivocal) were stained with DAPI-SR for DNA-flow- and with Feulgen-Pararosaniline for -image-cytometry. They were measured using a PAS-flow-cytometer and an AutoCyte-QUIC-DNA-workstation according to the ESACP consensus reports for DNA-flow- and -image-cytometry, respectively [7,23,29,49].

Results: Sensitivity of DNA-aneuploidy for the identification of malignant cells was 32.1% for DNA-flow- and 75.0% for -image-cytometry, specificity of -euploidy in benign cells was 100.0% for both methods. Positive predictive value of DNA-aneuploidy for the identification of malignant cells was 100.0% for both techniques, negative predictive value of DNA-euploidy was 48.6% for DNA-flow- and 72.0% for -image-cytometry.

Conclusions: Searching for DNA-aneuploidy as a diagnostic marker for neoplastic cells in serous effusions image-cytometry revealed superior sensitivity as compared with monoparametric flow cytometry.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Aneuploidy*
  • Ascitic Fluid / pathology
  • Ascitic Fluid / physiopathology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / physiopathology
  • DNA / analysis*
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Epithelium / pathology
  • Epithelium / physiopathology
  • Flow Cytometry / instrumentation
  • Flow Cytometry / methods*
  • Humans
  • Image Cytometry / instrumentation
  • Image Cytometry / methods*
  • Mesothelioma / pathology
  • Mesothelioma / physiopathology
  • Pleural Effusion, Malignant / pathology*
  • Pleural Effusion, Malignant / physiopathology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Serous Membrane / pathology
  • Serous Membrane / physiopathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • DNA