A causal relationship between chromosomal rearrangements and the genesis of salivary gland pleomorphic adenomas.

The results of chromosome analyses performed on 50 pleomorphic salivary gland adenomas in Germany are summarized herein and compared with those obtained on 100 adenomas studied in Sweden. In both series, characteristic or even specific structural chromosomal rearrangements involving either chromosome 8 or 12 were found that allowed the cytogeneticist to distinguish between subgroups. However, the significantly higher percentage of tumors with chromosome abnormalities in the adenomas examined in Germany is particularly noteworthy. In the near future, cytogenetic investigations together with molecular methods will allow investigators to describe basic mechanisms for the development of pleomorphic adenomas in terms of oncogenetics.