[Study on diagnostic value of analyzing argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions in benign and malignant pleural effusions].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic value of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) measurement in benign and malignant pleural effusions.


METHODS
Pleural effusions from 50 patients with proven malignant disease, 30 patients with benign disease were studied using the one-step silver staining method. Six cytologically atypical samples were also included in this study.


RESULTS
The mean AgNOR count in malignant cells was significantly higher than that in benign mesothelial cells (7.6 +/- 1.4 vs 2.3 +/- 0.7, P < 0.01). The morphological features of AgNOR in malignant cells were mainly of diffuse type (80%), while in benign mesothelial cells, mainly of nucleolar type (90%). Among the six cytologically atypical samples, four were in the malignant range, two were in the benign limits, and these were proved by histopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
AgNOR study may be useful in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pleural effusions.
Department of Respiratory Disease, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Guangzhou 510120.
S
S
Jiang
Z
Z
Zeng
Z
Z
Liao
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000473:pathology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D016622:Silver Staining; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis*