Clinical value of quantitative detection of DNA aneuploidy in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical lesions in middle-aged and senile women

Objective To investigate the clinical value of quantitative detection of DNA aneuploidy in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical lesions in middle-aged and senile women. Methods A total of 1 404 middle-aged and elderly women who underwent screening for early cervical lesions were retrospectively studied.Patients were divided into the two groups: the 40-49 years old group(n=897)and the 50-78 years old group(n=507). Cervical lesions were screened by DNA ploidy analysis and the results were compared with those screened by liquid-based cytology, colposcopy and high-risk human papillomavirus(HPV). Results The positive detection rate of HPV by DNA ploidy analysis was 54.4%(764/1 404). Of 1 404 patients, HPV16/18 infection accounted for 21.3%(299/1 404). The detection rate of heteroploid cells was 50.92%(715/1 404). There was a significant positive correlation between HPV infection type and cervical epithelial cell ploidy changes(r=870, P=0.001). The detection rate of HPV by liquid-based cytology was 45.08%, which was lower than that by DNA aneuploidy(χ2=9.594, P=0.002). The differences in the incidences of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(LSIL)and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL)and above categories of lesions were statistically significant(χ2=289.598, P=0.000)between patients with and without DNA aneuploidy.The statistically significant differences were found between the 40-49 years old group and 50-78 years old group(P<0.05)in the occurrence of abnormal DNA ploidy cells, HPV infection rate, the proportion of LSIL, HSIL and above categories of lesions. Conclusions Compared with the conventional cytology, DNA aneuploidy quantitative detection has higher sensitivity and better specificity, and has no significant difference from the high-risk HPV detection.It can be used as one of methods for screening cervical lesions in middle-aged and elderly women, especially those with high-risk HPV infection. Key words: DNA aneuploid; Uterine cervical neoplasms; Papillomavirus infections