Nuclear morphometry and AgNOR quantification: computerized image analysis on ovarian mucinous tumor imprints.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the morphometric characteristics of nuclei and silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) on cytologic imprints and their value in differential cytodiagnosis of benign, atypical proliferative (borderline) and malignant ovarian mucinous tumors.


METHODS
Forty-six mucinous ovarian tumor imprints (16 benign, 15 borderline, 15 malignant), were analyzed. Nuclear area, outline, "shape factor" and "form factor" were measured on Papanicolaou-stained smears. AgNOR quantification included 7 variables related to the number and area of single, cluster, total and relative AgNOR content per nucleus and the size distribution of AgNORs.


RESULTS
Nuclear area and shape factor allowed distinguishing borderline and malignant tumors. The nuclear area in benign tumors was larger than that in borderline tumors; malignant tumors had the highest values. Single and cluster AgNORs were statistically significantly different in borderline tumors compared with malignant tumors, except for the cluster AgNOR area. The total AgNOR area, number and relative area increased from benign through malignant tumors, with statistically significant differences among all groups. By AgNOR size distribution, small AgNORs discriminate malignant from borderline and benign tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining nuclear morphometry and AgNOR analysis on cytologic imprints could be a diagnostically useful method in the assessment of mucinous ovarian tumors.
Versa-Ostojić
Damjana
D
Department of Gynecological Cytology, University Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Center Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia. dversa@student.mef.hr
Stanković
Teodora
T
Stemberger-Papić
Snjezana
S
Vrdoljak-Mozetic
Danijela
D
Manestar
Miljenko
M
Krasević
Maja
M
D034961:Antigens, Nuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D018282:Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D018291:Cystadenoma, Mucinous / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D016622:Silver Staining / Q000379:methods
D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; C051963:nucleolar organizer region associated proteins