title: DNA aneuploidy as a specific marker of neoplastic cells in FNAB of the thyroid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether DNA image cytometry (ICM) could be of value in the specific identification of neoplastic cells in cytologic specimens of the thyroid.
  
  
  METHODS
  FNABs of thyroid from 162 patients with different benign and neoplastic diseases were investigated. Nuclear DNA content in thyroid cells was measured after Feulgen staining using a TV image analysis system. Data were correlated with clinical and histologic patient follow-up. The occurrence of abnormal DNA stemlines was used as a marker for aneuploidy and thus for neoplasia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the 89 cases without tumor cells revealed DNA aneuploidy. An abnormal DNA stemline was found in 55% of histologically proven benign thyroid tumors (follicular or oncocytic adenomas) and in 59.5% of malignant tumors. The positive predictive value of DNA aneuploidy in FNABs of the thyroid for neoplasms was 100%. The negative predictive value of DNA nonaneuploidy for the prediction of tumor-free histologic or clinical follow-up was 79.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DNA image cytometry may be helpful in the specific identification of neoplastic follicular cells. DNA ICM on FNABs of the thyroid is an additional tool to achieve early identification of patients with nodular lesions of the thyroid that have to be operated on. DNA euploidy excludes the presence of neither malignancy nor neoplasia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cytopathology, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nadjari
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Motherby
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pooschke
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pooschke
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Gabbert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Röher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feldkamp
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tharandt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Böcking
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000782:Aneuploidy; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm