[Cytophotometric DNA analysis of gastric carcinoma--relationship between DNA ploidy and lymph node metastasis]

Two hundred forty-four cases of gastric carcinoma were subjected to cytophotometric DNA analysis. DNA distribution patterns were roughly classified into low and high ploidies. The ratio of high ploidy was 55.7% (44/79) in the positive group of lymph node metastasis, which was significantly higher than 31.5% (52/165) in the negative group (P less than 0.01). The incidence of lymph node metastasis increased rapidly in the high ploidy cases with the progression of carcinoma, while it increased slowly in the low ploidy cases. DNA ploidy was well correlated with lymph node metastasis, and the mode of metastasis seemed to be different between the low and high ploidy groups.