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Flow Cytometry Examples
 
Trophoblastic Disease

The Allina Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory offers a powerful combination of two technologies, DNA flow cytometry (FC), and feulgen image cytometry (IC), for the determination of nuclear DNA content in fresh or paraffinized tissues. This complementary approach allows prospective (fresh tissue) or retrospective (paraffinized) assessment of ploidy status in abortus tissue undergoing evaluation for gestational trophoblastic disease.

Triploid DNA pattern

Figure 1


Several studies reported knowledge of the
DNA content (ploidy) was extremely helpful in
the pathologic classification of hydropic
placentas. As differences in DNA ploidy
between partial and complete hydatidiform
moles are large, FC/IC can readily distinguish
partial (usually DNA triploid) from complete
(usually DNA diploid or tetraploid) hydatidi-
form moles, or a partial mole from a non-molar
hydropic abortus (usually DNA diploid).
Ploidy determination by FC/IC is especially convenient in clinical situations where rapid turnaround is desired (<24 hours for fresh; 48 hours for paraffinized tissue), or when the tissue is unsuitable for cytogenetic studies (e.g. paraffinized). The profound sensitivity of feulgen cytometry permits DNA assessment on samples too small for cytogenetics or FC.

Specimen Requirements: Fresh, wet fixed, or paraffin-embedded abortus or placental tissue submitted to the Flow Cytometry Laboratory at United Hospital. Cytogenetic analysis of fresh

POC tissue is available through the Allina Central Laboratory, Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

Transport: Please call (612) 220-8472 for specimen transport assistance.

Routine Turnaround Time: Fresh tissue: 1-2 days, Paraffinized tissue: 2-4 days, Monday through Friday.

Triploid DNA pattern

Figure 2

Figures 1 and 2: Triploid DNA pattern as shown by flow cytometry and image cytometry, respectively.
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