[Diagnostic value of DNA ploidy in epithelial elevated lesions of the stomach]

Using flow cytometry, we evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of DNA aneuploidy in epithelial elevated lesions of the stomach. Four biopsy specimens were obtained from each lesion in 14 elevated early cancers, 21 adenomas, 37 hyperplastic polyps and 11 cases of chronic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia. All samples obtained from benign lesions indicated diploidy. DNA aneuploidy was detected in 12 lesions (85.7%) of early cancers. DNA indices ranged from 1.10 to 1.19 in six of 10 intramucosal cancers with DNA aneuploidy. Meanwhile, a total of two submucosally invasive cancers had stemlines with a DNA index of more than 2.00. Four early cancers, including two submucosally invasive ones, had multiple aneuploid stemlines. DNA aneuploidy is a useful marker of malignancy in epithelial elevated lesions of the stomach. A higher DNA index and multiple aneuploid stemlines may be possible markers of submucosal invasion in early cancer.