Usefulness of AgNOR counts in diagnosing epithelial dysplasia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Diagnosis of epithelial dysplasia has traditionally been subjective, and there is a need for a quantifiable and useful test.

METHODS:

In a double blind study, clinical leukoplakias from 52 people were diagnosed for presence (DLK) or absence (NDLK) of epithelial dysplasia using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain as a gold standard criterion, and results were compared against their mean silver stainable nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) counts. We used mean AgNOR count cut-point of 2.37 from our prior report as the diagnostic threshold (mean >or= 2.37 being DLK and mean < 2.37 being NDLK).

RESULTS:

The two methods (H&E and AgNOR) disagreed in 37% of the diagnoses. Both NDLK and DLK had high AgNOR counts. P-AgNOR was non-contributory for diagnosing epithelial dysplasia.

CONCLUSIONS:

Mean AgNOR count can be a useful tool in definitive diagnosis of epithelial dysplasia.

• Authors: Jay G Ray, Amit Chattopadhyay, Daniel J Caplan
• Journal: Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology (J Oral Pathol Med) Vol. 32 Issue 2 Pg. 71-6 (Feb 2003) ISSN: 0904-2512 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 12542828 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Coloring Agents
• Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
• Hematoxylin

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Coloring Agents
• Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
• Hematoxylin
• Humans
• Leukoplakia, Oral (diagnosis)
• Likelihood Functions
• Nucleolus Organizer Region (pathology)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Silver Staining
• Single-Blind Method