Nuclear DNA ploidy pattern and tissue levels of dihydroxyphenylalanine and catecholamines in pheochromocytoma.

Flow-cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA and measurements of tissue levels of dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) and catecholamines were performed using fresh samples of tissue taken from 17 patients with pheochromocytoma. Nine (53%) tumors had a diploid pattern of DNA, and 8 (47%) had an aneuploid pattern. The tissue concentrations of dopa, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine did not differ significantly between pheochromocytomas with a diploid and those with an anoeuploid pattern. These results suggest that there is no correlation between nuclear DNA ploidy and tissue levels of dopa and catecholamines in pheochromocytomas.