Nuclear DNA content, S-phase fraction analysis and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) of normal and hyperplastic/neoplastic parathyroid glands.

To clarify the biological behavior, the flowcytometric nuclear DNA content, S-phase fraction(SPF) and proliferating cells by immunostaining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) were investigated in 13 patients with hyperparathyroidism (10 adenomas, 2 hyperplasias and 1 cancer) and 10 normal controls. No. of parathyroid glands or tissues examined was as follows: 10 adenomas, three hyperplasias from one case, one primary and one recurrent carcinoma of the same case, two secondary hyperplasias from one case and 10 normal glands. All controls and hyperplasias showed diploid DNA, but the 10 adenomas aneuploid in four and diploid in six. The carcinoma showed diploid in the primary lesion, aneuploid in the recurrence. DNA index in recurrent carcinoma was higher than that in aneuploid adenoma. SPF in primary and recurrent cancers and adenomas as higher than that in the others. The expression of PCNA in all hyperparathyroidism except for hyperplasias was higher than that in normal controls. In conclusion, there might be some premalignant potential in the adenomas from the view of DNA flowcytometry and PCNA immunostaining. Therefore, aneuploid adenoma should be strictly followed up.