Significance of AgNOR measurement in thyroid lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the discriminating potential of AgNOR area measurement and count in thyroid tumors using static cytometry equipment.


METHODS
Slides were analyzed by a computerized system for image analysis, CAS 200 (Becton & Dickinson, U.S.A.), using the Cell Measurement computer program (CAS 200, Becton & Dickinson). The argyrophilic reaction (NORs) was evaluated with a 400-fold amplification directly from the computer monitor.


RESULTS
Thirty-three cases were analyzed for AgNOR staining. The cases studied included 3 goiters, 10 follicular adenomas, 6 Hürthle adenomas, 4 follicular carcinomas, 7 papillary carcinomas, and 3 Hürthle carcinomas. A total of 6,600 nuclei were evaluated. For statistical purposes, lesions were classified as benign and malignant, and both the number and the area of counted NORs showed very similar values. The NORs median among 19 benign tumors was 1.484 (SD +/- 0.265) and of 14 malignant tumors was 1.436 (SD +/- 0.414); the NORs areas were 2.6584 (SD +/- 1.0653) and 2.3643 (SD +/- 0.6320), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that AgNOR evaluation was not a significant parameter to discriminate between malignant and benign thyroid lesions.
Camargo
Roberto Souza
RS
Department of Surgery, Medicine School of São Paulo University, Brazil. robertocamargolim26@terra.com.br
Shirata
Neuza Kasumi
NK
di Loreto
Celso
C
Garcia
Eduardo Anselmo
EA
Castelo
Adauto
A
Longatto Filho
Adhemar
A
D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000473:pathology*; D016622:Silver Staining; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*