title: Argyrophilic staining of nucleolar organizer region count and morphometry in benign and malignant melanocytic lesions.
abstract: Differentiation between malignant melanomas (MMs) and benign nevi based on histologic features can sometimes be difficult. This study evaluated the diagnostic effectiveness of argyrophilic staining of nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in separating benign nevi from MMs by assessing 27 compound nevi (CN), 20 dysplastic nevi (DN), 10 Spitz nevi (SN), and 24 MMs. Both AgNOR count and morphology variables were measured from the superficial, middle, and deep zones of the lesions using video image analysis. Malignant melanomas had a significantly greater AgNOR number per nucleus, mean AgNOR area per nucleus, and variation in AgNOR area per nucleus compared with all types of benign nevi (p < 0.05). In multivariate discriminant analysis using a combination of four AgNOR counts and morphometric parameters, all CN and DN, 8 of 10 SN, and 23 of 24 MMs could be correctly classified as benign or malignant. The results suggest that both AgNOR count and morphology help to separate benign and malignant melanocytic lesions and that the combination of both sets of parameters improves their discriminating ability.
authors.affiliation: Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research Institute, Sydney Melanoma Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia. lawrence@mel.rpa.cs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Ling-Xi L
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kerry A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Crotty
authors.forename: Allan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Jillian J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kril
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Scolyer
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Stanley W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009506:Nevus / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000473:pathology*; D016622:Silver Staining / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*