title: [Usefulness of AgNOR technique in the interpretation of serous effusions].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  AgNOR technique detects, using silver salts, argyrophylic proteins of the nucleolar organizer region (NOR). The number and size of NOR reflect cell activity, proliferation and transformation and may help to differentiate benign from malignant cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of AgNOR assay to differentiate reactive mesothelial cells from malignant cells in serous effusions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty one fluids obtained from 16 pleural, 14 peritoneal and one pericardial effusion, were studied. The fluids were processed with Giemsa and Papanicolau stains and with the AgNOR technique. The number of AgNOR dots were counted (only when it was possible to distinguish each individual dot) and the mean value per nucleus was calculated for each smear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mesothelial cells had a mean of 4.88 +/- 1.5 dots compared with 13.78 +/- 3.88 dots in the malignant cells (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AgNOR assay can be useful for the differentiation of benign and malignant cells in serous effusions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Citología, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rocher
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Palaoro
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D016622:Silver Staining
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins