DNA cytometry of oral leukoplakia and oral lichen planus.

BACKGROUND DNA cytometry is a technique that allows densitometric analysis of nuclear DNA of cells and in this way the evaluation of DNA ploidy. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was the evaluation of DNA ploidy in oral leukoplakia and oral lichen planus and correlation with histological dysplasia. METHODS We analyzed oral incisional biopsies from a group of 40 patients with oral leukoplakias (20 homogeneous and 20 non-homogeneous) and 45 patients with oral lichen planus (25 erosive, 20 reticular), by DNA cytomorphometry, after conventional histological examination of sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Eight of 20 non-homogeneous leukoplakias showed aneuploidy; (3 showed mild aneuploidy) and only 2 specimens of erosive lichen planus showed moderate aneuploidy, while all 20 cases of reticular lichen planus were diploid. There was not concordance between DNA ploidy and the degree of histological assessed dysplasia.