Comparison of image analysis with flow cytometry for DNA content analysis in pigmented lesions of the skin
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O P Sangueza1, D M Hyder, C R White
1Department of Pathology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
Abstract:
The DNA ploidy of 85 melanocytic skin lesions was determined by flow cytometry (FCM) and interactive image analysis (IA) using nuclear extracts of paraffin-embedded tissue. Of the 85 lesions analyzed, 43 were malignant melanomas in different stages of evolution, 15 were dysplastic nevi, 11 were Spitz nevi, and 16 were other types of nevi. Some of the last had features of congenital nevi. Within the melanoma category, there was 42% aneuploidy by FCM versus 56% by IA. Of those melanomas aneuploid by FCM, all but one were aneuploid by IA. All dysplastic nevi, 10/11 Spitz nevi and 15/16 other nevi were diploid by both methods. One of the 16 nevi from the "other types" category was tetraploid by IA but diploid by FCM. A single Spitz nevus was tetraploid by FCM but diploid by image analysis. While our results suggest that interactive IA is potentially a more sensitive method than FCM for detecting aneuploidy in cutaneous pigmented lesions, it remains to be shown whether this will translate into better prognostic assessment of the biologic behavior of melanocytic neoplasms than provided by flow cytometric ploidy analysis.
Insights
Interactive image analysis (IA) may detect more DNA aneuploidy in melanocytic lesions than flow cytometry (FCM). Further research is needed to confirm if IA improves prognostic assessment for melanocytic neoplasms.
Area of Science:
- Dermatopathology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- DNA ploidy analysis is crucial for assessing melanocytic neoplasms.
- Flow cytometry (FCM) and interactive image analysis (IA) are methods for DNA ploidy determination.
- Cutaneous pigmented lesions require accurate diagnostic and prognostic tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the sensitivity of FCM and IA in detecting DNA aneuploidy in melanocytic skin lesions.
- To evaluate the ploidy status of various melanocytic lesions, including melanomas and nevi.
- To explore the potential of IA as a more sensitive method for ploidy analysis in this context.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of DNA ploidy in 85 melanocytic skin lesions using both FCM and IA.
- Utilized nuclear extracts from paraffin-embedded tissues.
- Categorized lesions into malignant melanomas, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, and other nevi.
Main Results:
- Interactive IA detected aneuploidy in 56% of melanomas, compared to 42% by FCM.
- High concordance was observed for aneuploid melanomas detected by both methods.
- Most nevi (dysplastic, Spitz, and others) were diploid by both FCM and IA, with few exceptions showing tetraploidy by one method.
Conclusions:
- Interactive IA appears to be a more sensitive method than FCM for detecting aneuploidy in cutaneous pigmented lesions.
- The clinical significance of enhanced aneuploidy detection by IA for prognostic assessment of melanocytic neoplasms requires further investigation.
- Both FCM and IA are valuable tools, but IA may offer improved sensitivity for specific ploidy abnormalities.