Significance of AgNOR measurement in thyroid lesions

• Published in: Analytical and quantitative cytology and histology Vol. 28; no. 4; p. 188
• Main Authors: Camargo, Roberto Souza, Shirata, Neuza Kasumi, di Loreto, Celso, Garcia, Eduardo Anselmo, Castelo, Adauto, Longatto Filho, Adhemar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2006
• Subjects: Humans; Image Cytometry; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Nucleolus Organizer Region - pathology; Silver Staining; Thyroid Neoplasms - classification; Thyroid Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 0884-6812

To evaluate the discriminating potential of AgNOR area measurement and count in thyroid tumors using static cytometry equipment. Slides were analyzed by a computerized system for image analysis, CAS 200 (Becton & Dickinson, U.S.A.), using the Cell Measurement computer program (CAS 200, Becton & Dickinson). The argyrophilic reaction (NORs) was evaluated with a 400-fold amplification directly from the computer monitor. Thirty-three cases were analyzed for AgNOR staining. The cases studied included 3 goiters, 10 follicular adenomas, 6 Hürthle adenomas, 4 follicular carcinomas, 7 papillary carcinomas, and 3 Hürthle carcinomas. A total of 6,600 nuclei were evaluated. For statistical purposes, lesions were classified as benign and malignant, and both the number and the area of counted NORs showed very similar values. The NORs median among 19 benign tumors was 1.484 (SD +/- 0.265) and of 14 malignant tumors was 1.436 (SD +/- 0.414); the NORs areas were 2.6584 (SD +/- 1.0653) and 2.3643 (SD +/- 0.6320), respectively. Our results showed that AgNOR evaluation was not a significant parameter to discriminate between malignant and benign thyroid lesions.