ABSTRACT

DNA ploidy was investigated in 19 formalin fixed-paraffin embedded blocks of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Single cell suspensions for flow cytometric analysis were prepared according to Hedley, (1989). The DNA ploidy and histogram were calculated and compared with the incidence of tumor recurrence. DNA aneuploidy was observed in 8 (42%) tumors. The mean DNA index was 1.46 with a range of 1.74 to 1.89. Recurrence of the primary lesions was seen in ten cases, distant metastasis found in three cases while only one case showed both local recurrence and distant metastasis. The results indicate positive relationship between aneuploidy and recurrence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma