Morphology, DNA cytophotometry and prognosis in gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumours (carcinoids). A clinico-pathological study on 95 patients

A total of 123 manifestations (97 primary rumours and 26 metastases) of neu roendocrine rumours of the gastrointestinal tract observed in 95 patients w as investigated for the prognostic value of clinical, histological and DNA cytophotometric parameters. Metastases almost exclusively occurred among il eal carcinoids, which also were responsible for all 14 cases of lethal outc ome observed during the follow-up period of mean 42 months. Aneuploid DNA V alues could be determined significantly more frequently among ileal than in non-ileal carcinoids and showed - upon analysis of the total group of gast rointestinal neuroendocrine rumours a significant correlation to lethal cou rse of disease. In addition,among 18 cases with primary and secondary carci noid manifestations available for DNA cytophotometry,an association between the DNA content of metastatic neuroendocrine rumours and prognosis came to light. When applicated to the group of ileal neoplasms, however, the param eter DNA content did not allow a better prognostic assessment.