[Flow cytometric studies of human brain tumors. Part 2: Human benign brain tumors (author's transl)].

This report compares the DNA content distribution of normal human brain tissue and of benign tumors of the brain. The cells were obtained from seven normal specimens and from fourteen types of benign brain tumors of 79 patients. The DNA content was determined by flow cytometry on single cell suspensions. Propidium iodide was used as DNA-intercalating fluorochrome. Normal, non-stimulated lymphocytes served as diploid controls. The proportions of diploid cells in G1 ranged from 78% to 93% and from 80% to 95% in the normal cortex and normal white matter, respectively. In the specimens of benign brain tumor the range was from 70% to 98%. Histograms with a single, diploid peak was obtained with the specimens from cases of lipoma, plasmacytoma, most meningiomas and around one-half of the cases of neurinomas and astrocytomas. Two peaks were seen with a few cases of meningioma and the remaining cases of neurinomas and astrocytomas. With the pituitary adenomas and craniopharyngiomas, in addition to the diploid peak, cells in the 4C and 8C ranges were also observed.