Diagnostic DNA-flow- vs. -image-cytometry in effusion cytology.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Institute of Cytopathology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstr. 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Helma
H
Motherby
Natalia
N
Pomjanski
Mary
M
Kube
Alexandra
A
Boros
Thomas
T
Heiden
Bernhard
B
Tribukait
Alfred
A
Böcking
D000465:Algorithms; D000782:Aneuploidy; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012704:Serous Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004247:DNA