DNA cytophotometry in adrenocortical tumours: a clinicomorphological study of 66 cases

Surgical specimens of 66 adrenocortical tumours were investigated by conventional microscopy and DNA cytophotometry. Histologically, 50 neoplasms were classified as adenomas and 16 as carcinomas. In only 8 of the latter cases were distant metastases and/or a lethal outcome recorded. On single cell scanning cytophotometry either non-euploid or aneuploid DNA histograms were identified in 24 of 50 adenomas (48%) and in 14 of 16 carcinomas (88%). The two carcinomas exhibiting euploid DNA distributions fell into the group of 7 malignancies which are recurrence-free so far. From these findings it is concluded that DNA measurements have no diagnostic and only limited prognostic value in neoplasms of the adrenal cortex.