title: Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions may help the differential diagnostic distinction between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine whether the number of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) could be of diagnostic significance in differentiating between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number of AgNORs was enumerated in biopsy specimens of normal pancreas, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of AgNORs was lower in patients with normal pancreas than in patients with chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In addition, the number of AgNORs was significantly lower in chronic pancreatitis than in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is usually clear. Difficulties can be encountered, however, in cases of chronic pancreatitis, specially when biopsy material is small. Our results suggest that the number of AgNORs may help in distinguishing between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, especially in diagnostically difficult specimens.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Surgery, University of Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eskelinen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lipponen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasanen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nuutinen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alhava
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000473:pathology*; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012835:Silver Nitrate
chemical_list: D012835:Silver Nitrate