Malignant transformation of osteoblastoma: study using image analysis microdensitometry.

Abstract

AIM:

To determine if the malignant transformation, as perceived histologically, in a case of osteoblastoma from the right femur, was also expressed as a quantitative change in nuclear DNA during tumour progression over five months.

METHODS:

Nuclear DNA microdensitometry by computer image analysis was used to acquire relative DNA distribution patterns. Tissue had been removed on four separate occasions from a lesion in the right femur of an 18 year old man. Retrospective DNA analysis was performed on formalin fixed, paraffin wax-embedded tissue.

RESULTS:

The DNA profile of the initial biopsy specimen, which was histologically diagnosed as osteoblastoma, was euploid with a near diploid (2c) modal DNA. The second biopsy specimen taken one month later also resembled osteoblastoma but showed an aneuploid DNA profile with a diploid modal DNA and some nuclei with ploidy greater than 5c. The third biopsy specimen taken four months later showed histological evidence of osteosarcoma and a near pentaploid (5c) modal DNA with large number of nuclei exceeding 5c.

CONCLUSIONS:

DNA microdensitometry confirmed the initial and final diagnosis. The technique also seems to be capable of detecting aneuploidy before malignancy is morphologically evident.

• Authors: J Grace, S McCarthy, R Stankovic, W Marsden
• Journal: Journal of clinical pathology (J Clin Pathol) Vol. 46 Issue 11 Pg. 1024-9 (Nov 1993) ISSN: 0021-9746 [Print] England
• PMID: 8254089 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA, Neoplasm

Topics

• Adolescent
• Bone Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, genetics, pathology)
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic (genetics, pathology)
• DNA, Neoplasm (analysis)
• Femur (diagnostic imaging)
• Humans
• Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
• Male
• Osteoblastoma (diagnostic imaging, genetics, pathology)
• Osteosarcoma (pathology)
• Ploidies
• Radiography
• Retrospective Studies