Is agNOR and DNA ploidy analysis useful for evaluating thyroid neoplasms?
OBJECTIVE
To correlate the subjective AgNOR counting method and DNA content with histologic diagnoses of thyroid cancer and invasion.


METHODS
Eighty-one consecutive cases of thyroid carcinoma were selected for DNA and AgNOR analysis. The diagnoses were: papillary carcinoma (n = 40), follicular carcinoma (n = 31), Hürthle cell adenocarcinoma (n = 4), and undifferentiated carcinoma (n = 6). Seven normal thyroids were used as controls. DNA quantitative measurement was performed with Vidas 2.0 software (Kontron Bildanalyse, Munich, Germany) connected to an MPM 210 photometer microscope (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany). The DNA index was obtained using histograms. Counting the NORs was performed by subjectively counting the NORs in 200 malignant cells.


RESULTS
DNA ploidy analysis showed all Hürthle cell adenocarcinomas, 21 (67%)follicular tumors, 23 (57%) papillary tumors and 4 (67%) undifferentiated carcinomas to be aneuploid. DNA analysis correlated with histologic type of the tumor (p = 0.032). There was no statistical significance to the AgNOR counting variables studied. Statistical analysis showed correlation between ploidy and histologic diagnosis, but not AgNOR counting, to have prognostic value.


CONCLUSIONS
DNA ploidy is more useful than subjective counting of NORs as an adjunct method for thyroid lesion analysis.
Camargo
Roberto Souza
RS
Department of Surgery and Laboratory of Medical Investigation 26, Hospital das Clinicas, Medical School of São Paulo University, Brazil.
Maeda
Marina Yoshie Sakamoto
MY
di Loreto
Celso
C
Shirata
Neuza Kasumi
NK
Anselmo Garcia
Eduardo
E
Filho
Adhemar Longatto
AL
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000782:Aneuploidy; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear / Q000032:analysis; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry; D007621:Karyotyping; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011003:Ploidies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C051963:nucleolar organizer region associated proteins