title: [Analysis of nuclear DNA histograms in thymomas].
abstract: The nuclear DNA content of normal thymuses and thymomas were measured by microphotometry. The DNA histograms were analyzed for 1) peak values, 2) cell with DNA contents of 4C or more (tetraploidy), and 3) average histograms. The DNA histograms of normal thymuses had peak values around 2C. However, the peak value on thymomal histograms moved to the 4C region (tetraploidy). Advances in stages were followed by an increase in the number of cells with high DNA contents. The number of cells with DNA contents of 8C or more (octaploidy) were significant only in stage III. Thymomal histograms were different from those of normal thymuses. The DNA histograms of thymomas changed with advances in stage, which may indicate that the epithelial cells of thymomas become neoplastic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hitomi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013945:Thymoma / Q000032:analysis*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm