title: A semi-automated procedure for aiding the diagnosis of cervical neoplasms based on the measurement of acid-labile DNA in exfoliated cells.
abstract: Measurements of acid-labile fractions of DNA in cells exfoliated from cervical neoplasms (invasive squamous-cell carcinomas) using Feulgen techniques have shown elevated values in both abnormal and cytologically normal cell nuclei. These increased values occur early in the hydrolysis profiles before the Feulgen hydrolysis optimum for the cell nuclei of normal patients has been attained. They are of sufficient magnitude to enable a microcomputer programmed in BASIC to distinguish between normal and abnormal cells, even when the latter are of cytologically normal appearance. By semi-automating the measurement procedure using a microcomputer interfaced with a Vickers M86 microdensitometer, the assessment of acid-labile DNA in cell nuclei is proposed as a useful aid to the existing cytological diagnosis of cervical neoplasms.
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D003720:Densitometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C007722:Feulgen stain; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes