title: Is high AgNOR quantity in hepatocytes associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic liver disease?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether high numbers of silver staining nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) in hepatocytes are associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The quantitative distribution of AgNORs was studied in the liver biopsy specimens of 33 patients with chronic liver disease, 11 of whom developed hepatocellular carcinoma. The interval between liver biopsy and diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was 26 months (range one to 61 months); the mean follow up of patients without hepatocellular carcinoma was 45 months (range 24-59 months). Quantitative evaluation of AgNORs was carried out on silver stained routine sections by morphometric analysis, using a computer assisted image analysis system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High interphase AgNOR values (> 3 microns2) were found in hepatocytes of nine out of the 11 (82%) patients in whom neoplastic transformation occurred. Of the remaining 22 patients, only seven (31%) had AgNOR values higher than > 3 microns2 (chi 2 4.83; p = 0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that high numbers of interphase AgNORs are associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Derenzini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trerè
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oliveri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colombatto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonino
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Brunetto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors