[Nuclear DNA content in breast carcinoma by fine needle aspiration biopsy]

The usefulness of the measurement of nuclear DNA content by fine needle aspiration biopsy was evaluated through a comparative study of fine needle aspirated and tissue samples. Nuclear DNA content was measured in patients with 28 primary and 2 metastatic lesions of breast carcinoma using fluorescent cytophotometry with Feulgen stain. The rate of correspondence on DNA ploidy pattern of aspirates and tissue samples was 86.7%. There was a significant correlation with DNA index (DI) (R = 0.85, p < 0.001) and S-phase fraction (%S) (R = 0.79, p < 0.001). The rate of correspondence of DI subgroups (3 aneuploid subgroups and diploid) was 80.8%. No tumor size affected values of DI and %S of aspirates. However, %S of papillotubular carcinoma showed small difference compared with values of tissue samples. Nuclear DNA content of fine needle aspirated samples had a significant correlation with that of tissue samples, providing the estimation of the original ploidy pattern and DI. Fine needle aspiration biopsy is an easy technique and able to be carried out repeatedly. Thus, the measurement of nuclear DNA content using aspirates is useful for broad practical purposes.