DNA cytophotometry in malignant thyroid tumors--use of different evaluation schemes for prognostic statements

Quantitative evaluation of nuclear DNA has been found to provide information on diagnosis and prognosis in a number of malignant tumours and borderline lesions. Using 53 carcinomas of the thyroid with varying differentiation we examined the prognostic information obtained by DNA cytophotometry with respect to clinical outcome, applying three different evaluation schemes. DNA cytophotometry allowed the discrimination of euploid carcinomas with good prognosis from aneuploid tumours with bad prognosis and a generally shortened life span. However, the encapsulated variants of follicular and papillary thyroid carcinomas, with their generally excellent prognosis, exhibited DNA histograms similar to those of their widely invasive counterparts. Thus, the favourable prognosis of these minimal invasive subtypes may primarily be related to the tumours' encapsulation and cannot be ascribed to a particular DNA content. We conclude that DNA cytophotometry can provide additional prognostic information for the individual patient suffering from thyroid carcinoma and may probably lead to an individualization of the therapeutic strategies.