Evaluation of a one-parameter flow analysis of cervical samples for gynecology cancer screening

A total of 246 endocervical samples were collected for Papanicolaou staining and one-parameter flow cytometric DNA analysis (FCDA) using 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole as a DNA stain. Typical histograms derived from FCDA analysis were designated class I, II, III, and V. Two groups of patients were studied: 135 women referred for colposcopy (COLPO), and 79 women exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES). The remaining 32 samples were evaluated and found unsatisfactory. In the colposcopy group FCDA assigned 38 patients normal, 62 mild to moderate dysplasia, 33 moderate to severe dysplasia, and 2 carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. Agreement of Pap smear and FCDA occurred in 56, 59, 72, and 100%, respectively. In the diethylstilbestrol group 57 patients were normal and 12 had mild to moderate dysplasia according to Pap diagnosis. Agreement between FCDA and Pap diagnosis were 45 and 58%, respectively. However, FCDA did not falsely assign severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ to any DES patient. This preliminary study based on FCDA appears to clearly differentiate patients with normal Pap smears from those patients with invasive cancer.