Ploidy pattern analysis. Statistical considerations.

Availability of large data sets of ploidy measurements makes it possible to study ploidy patterns for the diagnostic and prognostic clues they can provide. Appropriate statistical analyses can improve the accuracy and precision of these studies. Such statistical analyses include considerations of sample size requirements for the detection of different types of deviations from normal, analyses of sources of variability in ploidy patterns and assessment of the probabilities of both types of possible errors in patient classification. The advantages of statistical assessment in the classification of ploidy patterns associated with diagnostic categories are discussed in the context of these considerations.