title: Efficacy of argyrophilic nucleolar organizing region analysis using computer-assisted and manual in oral leukoplakia: A comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nucleolar organizer regions are loops of DNA containing ribosomal RNA genes and presumably are associated with ribosomal RNA activity, protein synthesis, and cell proliferation. Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) count has been suggested as an objective method in differentiating dysplastic lesions from non-dysplastic lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study was done on archival paraffin blocks (n = 60), consisting of 10 normal human oral epithelium, 22 cases of non-dysplastic leukoplakia (NDLK), and 28 cases of dysplastic leukoplakia (DLK). The AgNORs were counted with the aid of a manual using conventional light microscopy and photographs of the same were taken and analyzed using Image Pro Express 6.0 (Media Cybernetic Inc., USA) for windows.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean AgNOR count per nucleus was found to be higher in patients with DLK as compared to NDLK and controls using both manual counting and image analysis method and on comparing both the techniques, image analysis provide a more accurate reflection of AgNOR counts than manual counting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To conclude, reliability of computerized image technique of AgNOR count is the most appropriate marker to differentiate between dysplastic and NDLK. Computer-assisted image analysis system was found to be an effective tool in achieving high reproducibility as compare to manual.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Chandra Dental college and Hospital, Barabanki, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Kavita Nitish
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Vineet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: Shaleen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandra
mesh_terms: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; C051963:nucleolar organizer region associated proteins