ANEUPLOIDY IN SALIVARY-GLAND ADENOMAS

The occurrence of abnormal nuclear DNA content in major salivary gland adenomas is not well known and its correlation with tumor recurrence has not been documented previously. From 1987 to 1991, 119 consecutive major salivary gland adenomas were operated on at Turku University Ce ntral Hospital. These tumors were analyzed by flow cytometry and 100 ( 84%) were found to be diploid, 12 (10%) near-diploid and 7 (6%) aneupl oid with DNA indexes > 1.15. The mean proliferation rate measured as a percentage of cells in the S-phase fraction was 2.5 +/- 1.6%. The his tological slides were then blindly reclassified according to current W orld Health Organization classification. As a result histological clas sification was changed in 3 tumors: malignant cells were found in 2 an euploid tumors and 1 diploid neoplasm. Preoperative cytological fine-n eedle aspiration biopsy had been considered as possibly malignant in 2 of these cases. Among all case material 10 specimens were recurrent t umors; although the tendency to recur depended on the extent and adequ acy of the surgery performed, multiple recurrences were associated wit h non-diploid tumors.