[DNA cytophotometric studies of central giant-cell lesions of the jaw region].

Abstract

Giant cell nuclear DNA, in 30 giant cell lesions of the jaws, was quantitated by computer-assisted image analysis. DNA content was then used to predict clinical behavior and outcome. Four.nuclei in each of 25 giant cells (total = 100 nuclei) were randomly selected and DNA content was quantitated by the LEITZ Texture-Analysis-System-Plus. DNA in nuclei of normal appearing stromal fibroblasts (n = 20) was similarly measured. DNA index was calculated as the mean nuclear DNA content of giant cells divided by mean DNA content of control fibroblasts. The mean DNA index of aggressive lesions (1.09, S. D. = 0.12) was not significantly different from that of non-aggressive lesions (1.18, S. D. = 0.15) (p = 0.093). The results indicate that nuclear DNA content of giant cells is not useful as a predictor of clinical behavior of giant-cell lesions of the jaws.