Nuclear DNA content using computerized image cytometry of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck

Ploidy status using flow cytometry of head and neck cancers may be of prognostic value. We describe the use of image cytometry in ploidy measurement of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). This technique allows only tumour cells to be measured, thereby rejecting debris, artefact and benign cells. Tissue sections were cut from tumours and then Feulgen stained. A total of 60 patients were included in this study, 23 females and 37 males. The data reveals a relationship between ploidy status and the histological differentiation. However, the ploidy status and histological differentiation do not appear to correlate to the clinical stage of the disease. This method of measuring ploidy may be more accurate than flow cytometry and may have a prognostic role in head and neck cancer patients. A study comparing both methods may demonstrate this and we aim to evaluate this in the future.