Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions may help the differential diagnostic distinction between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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.
Mäkinen
K
K
Dept. of Surgery, University of Kuopio, Finland.
Eskelinen
M
M
Lipponen
P
P
Pasanen
P
P
Nuutinen
P
P
Alhava
E
E
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
D012835:Silver Nitrate