Chromosome and DNA cytometric study of a papillary carcinoma of the bladder with a high stemline and numerous double minutes.

A papillary cancer of the bladder [WHO grade 3] was studied with chromosome and DNA analysis. A high frequency of mitoses was noted, and analysis of 151 metaphases revealed a dominating stemline in the pentaploid region. More than 95% of the cells contained double minutes (dm). Flow cytometry showed the dominant stemline to be in the hexaploid region, that is, about 20% above the numerical chromosome value. This difference is generally obtained when these two methods are compared and is not influenced by the presence of dm. Both methods have been complementary in the evaluation of this tumor.