Nucleolar organiser region (NOR) distribution as a diagnostic marker in oral keratosis, dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

Nucleolar organiser regions (NORs) were quantified from a range of oral mucosal biopsies (n = 40) consisting of benign, reactive, dysplastic and carcinomatous lesions, using silver (Ag) staining, to see if AgNOR counts were helpful in distinguishing them. Mean counts were greater in carcinomas (8.37 +/- 6.11) compared to epithelial dysplasias (5.61 +/- 4.63) or benign keratoses (4.51 +/- 2.57). Although these differences were significant, counts in each diagnostic group overlapped so much that they were of no practical value in distinguishing between individual lesions. However, the higher counts found in many carcinomas were due to dispersion of AgNORs within the nucleoplasm, so that the AgNOR type is helpful in making such a distinction. Whether those dysplastic lesions with higher and more dispersed counts represent those at greater risk of malignant transformation awaits longitudinal study.

• Authors: K A Warnakulasuriya, N W Johnson
• 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. 22 Issue 2 Pg. 77-81 (Feb 1993) ISSN: 0904-2512 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 8445547 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Biomarkers, Tumor

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Analysis of Variance
• Biomarkers
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Candidiasis, Oral (diagnosis, pathology)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (diagnosis, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Leukoplakia, Oral (diagnosis, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mouth Mucosa (pathology)
• Mouth Neoplasms (diagnosis, pathology)
• Nucleolus Organizer Region (pathology)
• Precancerous Conditions (diagnosis, pathology)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Reproducibility of Results
• Silver Staining