[Cytofotometrically Determined DNA-pattern of premalignant cases of dysplasia of the cervix uteri. Contribution to the problem of morphologic definition and clinical sigificance of these lesions (author's transl)].

24 cases of probably benign and precancerous epithelial lesions of the cervix uteri were analysed cytofotometrically. The specimens were stained after the method of Feulgen. Benign epithelial changes for instance metaplasia, regenerating epithelium, atrophic and parakeratotic epithelium, basal cell hyperplasia and cervix epithelium irritated by inflammation, had normal diploid DNA-pattern. On the contrary premalignant dysplasia of all stages show an aneuploid DNA-content in every case. The cases of dysplasia had no diploid mode, an atypical proliferation with polyploidisation of an atypical way, DNA-stemlines and a broad scattering of DNA-values. Carcinoma in situ had a similar DNA-content. These data confirm the hypothesis premalignant dyplasia is a reality between normal cervical epithelium and carcinoma in situ. For now only severe grades of dysplasia have been treated by operation (i. e. conisation, hystectomy) not the low grade cases of dysplasia. With regard to DNA-histograms of dysplasia of all grades this seems to be unjustified.