Flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA content in oral leukoplakia.

Abstract

DNA ploidy has been studied in 20 para.n!embedded specimens of oral leukoplakia and in 09 specimens of oral leukoplakia that have undergone malignant transformation after a 4!year observation period[ Three out of 20 specimens "8[6)# showed an aneuploid DNA pattern\ with DNA indices of 0[06\ 0[17 and 0[21[ It was not possible to establish a statistically signi_cant di}erence of DNA ploidy related to the presence or absence of dysplasia[ One out of the 09 oral leukoplakias that underwent malignant transformations had a multiploid pattern with DNA indices of 0[33 and 1[26[ In this study the DNA index has not proved to be of value in the identi_cation of dysplastic leukoplakia among the non!dysplastic ones[