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The author has studied microspectrophotometrically the DNA content in cell nuclei of 30 nonirradiated and 30 irradiated with different doses squamous-cell laryngeal cancers and their regional metastases in the growth zone of histological sections and in cytological specimens (impressions). The DNA "accumulation index" and polyploidization phenomenon were found to be considerably decreased depending on radiation dosage in the group of observations with a good clinical effect. In cytological preparations (impressions) these indices were lower, that seems to be related with the fact that cells of central tumor portions would get into the impression-preparation. Kinetic changes in the DNA content and a histographic type can characterize the tissue radiosensitivity, thus allowing an objective morphological control over radiation therapy.

A microspectrophotometric study of DNA content in nuclei of cells of the normal larynx mucosa, papiloma, epithelial layer of fibromas, areas of atypical hyperplasia of the epithelium of papillomas, intraepithelial cancer, squamous-cell carcinoma of the larynx, matastases in the regional lymph nodes, was carried out on the basis of bioptic and operation materials. A total of 82 histological sections and 50 cytological preparations (impressions) obtained from the same specimens of the tissue were investigated. The microspectrophotometric investigation revealed the growth of DNA "accumulation indices" from stratified squamous epithelium (2.5) through atypical proliferation (3.9) to squamous-cell carcinoma of the larynx (8.2) and its metastases (12.4). The DNA content in intrapithelial cancer was higher than that in invasive squamous-cell carcinoma. Determination of the type of distribution of nuclei of cells of a tumour in cytological and histological preparations (in growth zones) according to ploidity and of characteristic features of the tissue with the help of the generalized "accumulation index" of DNA may be helpful as objective tests in morphological diagnosis of precancer and cancer processes in the larynx and in taking decisions concerning their prognosis.