[Flow fluorescence-photometry in ovarian carcinomas with and without effusion]

By flow microfluorometry the DNA distribution curve of the cell nuclei of 39 adnex tumors, mainly ovarian carcinomas, was measured. 47% of the malignant tumor cell populations were diploid, the other ones were heteroploid (i.e. polyploid, tetraploid, aneuploid stem lines). Heteroploid tumors had the worse prognosis. In 8 cases effusions were analysed (7 ascites, 1 pleura). It is possible to diagnose a malignant tumor from effussion fluid by impulse cytophotometry. But in one case a great difference was found between the primary tumor and the ascites fluid, which only shows the DNA distribution of an irritative effusion. The value of impulse cytophotometry for clinical purposes is discussed.