title: [Proposal for a semiqualitative evaluation method for AgNORs (rap score)].
abstract: Nucleolar Organiser Regions (NORs) can be stained in paraffin embedded specimens by a simple silver technique: the black dots formed, called AgNORs, have usually been counted only by eye with "careful focusing", a time-consuming and subjective method. Therefore we propose a new semiquantitative approach based on three patterns of AgNORs configuration of increasing malignancy as previously described by Crocker et al: 1) AgNORs fully aggregated to form a solitary argyrophil structure (pattern RESTING: -R-); 2) AgNORs lying within nucleolus and nucleoplasm (Pattern ACTIVATED: -A-); 3) Numerous small AgNORs distributed through the nucleoplasm, without nucleolar structures (Pattern PROLIFERATING: -P-). We assigned a numerical value to each pattern: R = 1; A = 2; P = 3. These values are multiplied by the relative rate in 100 cells. Eventually we obtain a score (range 100-300): this method shows significant correlation (r = 0.8363: regression equation) compared to the usual count obtained "by eye", tested on a sample of 150 breast cancer. Further studies are under way to validate this method which may represent a cheap and useful tool in AgNORs evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Anatomia e Istologia patologica, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli e Oftalmico di Milano.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Migliorini
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016622:Silver Staining
vernacular_title: Proposta di un metodo di valutazione semiquantitativa delle AgNORs (rap score).