On adrenocortical neoplasms: a comparative study between DNA flow cytometric analysis and nucleolar organizer region expression

ABSTRACT

Pathologic morphology, clinical features, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions [AgNOR] and nuclear DNA contents determined by flow cytometry [FCM] were studied in 12 cases of adrenocortical neoplasms. Cases of hyperplasia and normal adrenal gland [4 cases each] were also included. Tumors were classified as 6 cases of adenomas and 6 cases of carcinomas by the criteria of Weiss. In this work, Weiss criteria are valuable in evaluating the differences of the various lesions studied as supported by using nuclear AgNOR and FCM. For normal cortex the mean AgNOR value was 2.05 +/- 0.311 and in hyperplasia 3.46 +/- 0.25. The mean AgNOR value in adenoma was 4.12 +/- 0.264 and in carcinoma 7.25 +/- 0.666. All cases of adenomas and hyperplasia had a diploid or near diploid pattern, while carcinomas were aneuploid. This study indicated that AgNOR technique and flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA content complement conventional histopathologic method in the diagnosis of malignancy in adrenal cortical tumors