title: Value of argyrophilic nucleolar organizing region protein determinations in nondiagnostic fine needle aspiration samples (due to insufficient cell groups) of thyroid nodules.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diagnostic value of argyrophilic nucleolar organizing regions (AgNORs) in the nondiagnostic fine needle aspiration biopsy (NFNAB) specimens (due to insufficient cell groups) of cases with thyroid nodules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients with NFNAB were included in the study. FNAB stained with Giemsa was faded using the McKee technique, then stained for AgNOR detection according to a specific protocol. One hundred nuclei per individual were evaluated to detect the AgNOR count/nucleus and total AgNOR area/ nuclear area (TNA/NA) of individual cells by using a computer program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AgNOR values of patients with NFNAB were between 1.2-2.4% for AgNOR count/ nucleus and between 3.1-9.1%for TNA/NA. When the cutoff values were taken as > 3 for AgNOR count/nucleus and > 8 for TNA/NA, the sensitivity ratios were 100% and 97% for AgNOR count/nucleus and TNA/ NA for discriminating benign/malignant lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By using some cutoff values obtained from a modified AgNOR staining method, benign/malignant potential of thyroid aspirations with NFNAB may be estimated. (Anal Quant Cytopathol Histopathol
authors: Department of Medical Genetics, Duzce University Medical School, Duzce, Turkey. eroz38r@hotmail.com
authors: Recep
authors: R
authors: Eröz
authors: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Kursad
authors: K
authors: Unluhizarci
authors: Department of Medical Biology, Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Nurhan
authors: N
authors: Cucer
authors: Department of Pathology, Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Figen
authors: F
authors: Ozturk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000473:pathology*; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016622:Silver Staining / Q000379:methods*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult