Value of AgNOR counts in cervical pathology.
Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) were counted on normal tissue, condylomata, CIN 1, 2 and 3, to verify the possibility of a differentiation between the various grades of CIN and between them and condylomata. Counts were performed on the full thickness of the tissue, layer by layer (stratified counts). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was found between the mean of normal tissue in relation to condylomata and CIN 2 and 3 and between CIN 1, and CIN 2 and 3. There was no significance (p > 0.05) between normal tissue and CIN 1, between CIN 2 and 3 and between condylomata and CIN 2 and 3. The range of variations in the counts was associated with overlapping between the various cases. Our data showed also a progressive rise in mean NOR values from normal tissue to CIN 3. The stratified counts showed in all the groups a rise from basal to parabasal cells. Counts on parabasal and intermediate layers distinguished two groups of cases. In one there was either the same number of dots or a further rise while in the other a definite decrease was seen. The former pattern may be related to a potential for malignant evolution of the lesion. NORs should be counted in all cases of CIN and condylomata to treat more aggressively those lesions which present the patterns of a progressive rise of NORs from basal to intermediate cells.
Leopardi
O
O
Department of Pathology, Ospedale Maggiore, Lodi, Italy.
Colavecchio
M
M
Colecchia
M
M
Dedè
A
A
D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology*; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*