[Flow cytometric analysis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma]

Fifty cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were analysed by flow cytometry for DNA index (DI) and cytokinetics in order to study their relation with histopathology and prognosis. The results showed that DI values ranged from 0.96 to 1.96 with an average of 1.58; aneuploid frequency was 94% (47/50 cases); higher %S+G2M or PI was found; the 5 year survival rate was 26.47%. Cross comparison of these data indicated that 1. vesicular nuclear cell carcinoma was different from the poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma as to DI and aneuploid frequency, supporting the former as an independent clinico-pathological type; 2. DI, aneuploid frequency, cytokinetics and prognosis were not significantly different in the pale even nuclear and dark granular nuclear patterns of poorly differentiated squamous cells carcinoma and 3. there were higher %S+G2M values in all the three groups (vesicular, pale even and dark granular nuclear patterns).