Flow cytometric
DNA analysis was performed on
formalin fixed
paraffin-embedded samples taken from 43 cases of
peripheral nerve tumors. Fourteen samples were taken from benign
tumors, 11 from actively proliferative
tumors and 12 from malignant
tumors. Ploidy pattern and proliferative index of
tumors were estimated. All samples of benign
tumors showed a diploid model of
DNA content whereas
DNA aneuploidy was encountered in 75% (12/16) of the malignant
tumors and 25% (4/16) of the actively proliferative
tumors. The proliferative index (PI) of benign
tumors (medium: 24.8%) was lower than that of proliferative
tumors (medium: 42.7%). The proliferative index of malignant
tumors was the highest in the experimental group (medium: 51.2%). These results were conformable to the malignant degree of histologic grading and prognosis.