Cytodiagnostic use of Feulgen-DNA measurements in cell imprints from the skin of patients with mycosis fungoides

To obtain objective criteria for the diagnosis of incipient mycosis fungoides, Feulgen-DNA cytophotometry was carried out in skin imprint preparations from patients with clinically definite mycosis fungoides and from patients suspected of having this disease. Cell imprints of benign skin lesions such as chronic dermatitis served as controls. All patients with mycosis fungoides showed abnormal histograms with aneuploid and polyploid Feulgen-DNA distribution patterns. In the control group the mean class of Feulgen-DNA values was diploid. Five per cent or more of non-diploid cells was taken as a criterion for malignancy. On this basis, eight of the fifteen patients in the suspect group showed abnormal histograms. Six of these eight patients developed a malignant skm reticulosis within a year. The other (seven) patients in this group showed normal histograms, and none of them developed a skin malignancy during a follow-up period of 2½ years. Feulgen-DNA cytophotometry may therefore be considered an objective aid in the diagnosis of the early stages of mycosis fungoides.