[Flow-cytometric study of familial paragangliomas of the carotid body].

Paragangliomas of the carotid body with an autosomal dominant genetic transmission have been described in a familial presentation in 7-10% of all the cases observed. In less than 10% malignancy is confirmed by secondary metastatic localization rather than by typical histological features of malignant diseases, such as vascular or perineural invasion, nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic activity. The purpose of the study is to present a familial group of paragangliomas of the carotid boy and a flow cytometric analysis of tumor content DNA and to discuss the prognostic value of the results. The paragangliomas of these related patients (father and daughter) are diploid, without regional lymph node or distant metastases; clinical and cytometric findings support a good prognosis even if an accurate follow up of such neuroendocrine tumors is nonetheless mandatory. Considering data in Literature, the Authors also propose a prognostic classification of paragangliomas as follows: noninvasive (capsulated, without vascular or perineural infiltration, diploid); locally invasive (histological signs such as vascular or perineural infiltration, nuclear pleomorphism, abnormal mitoses etc, diploid); potentially malignant (histological signs, non-diploid, expression of few antigens) and malignant (regional or distant metastases).