Three cases of solid and cystic tumor of the pancreas. Analysis comparing the histopathological findings and DNA histograms.

The pathological findings in three cases of solid and cystic tumor (SCT) of the pancreas were compared with the nuclear DNA histogram obtained by flow cytometry. One case involved malignant SCT with liver metastases. Two of the cases were benign SCT. In the malignant SCT, cellular atypia and mitotic figures were extensively observed. The proliferation index (PI) was 25, and the DNA index (DI) was 1.65. In the benign SCT, cellular atypia and mitotic figures were rarely observed. The PI was 8 and 13, respectively, and the DI was 1.0 in both cases. The proliferative activity and the biological malignant potential of the malignant SCT were thought to be higher than those of the benign SCT.