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Application of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) staining for cytology of biliary tract carcinomas
Author(s) -
Nanashima Atsushi,
Yamaguchi Hiroyuki,
NishizawaTakano Juan Eiki,
Hatano Kazuhiko,
Shibasaki Shinichi,
Sawai Terumitsu,
Yasutake Toru,
Obatake Masayuki,
Nakagoe Tohru,
Ayabe Hiroyoshi
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of hepato‐biliary‐pancreatic surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.63
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1868-6982
pISSN - 0944-1166
DOI - 10.1007/s005340200060
Subject(s) - malignancy , nucleolar organizer region , nucleolus organizer region , bile duct , pathology , cytology , biliary tract , gallbladder , medicine , staining , ampulla , carcinoma , gastroenterology , nucleolus , nucleus , psychiatry
Purpose/Background Increased numbers of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) dots reflect higher proliferating activity of malignant cells. Methods To determine whether AgNOR staining is suitable for cytology of bile in biliary diseases as an ancillary diagnostic method, we examined the mean number of AgNOR dots (MNA) in cells of both bile smear and tissue sections in 14 benign biliary diseases and 25 malignancies of the biliary tract. The malignant diseases consisted of 11 gallbladder cancers, 10 bile duct cancers, and 4 ampulla cancers in patients who underwent surgical resection. Results of AgNOR staining were available in 15 min, and the MNA in the nucleus was counted in 50 cells/specimen. Results The MNAs in malignant cells in bile smear (9.6 ± 3.8) and tissue sections (9.2 ± 3.5) were significantly higher than those in the corresponding cells in benign biliary diseases (4.1 ± 1.0 and 2.9 ± 0.8, respectively; P < 0.01). The MNA of bile smear for both benign and malignant cells correlated significantly with that of tissue sections ( r = 0.915; P < 0.0001). When the cutoff value of MNA for bile smear was set at 7.0, benign diseases could be discriminated from malignancy, and the MNA of 20 (80%) malignant specimens was higher than this value. Conclusions Our results suggest that the AgNOR dot count of cells in bile smears would be a useful diagnostic tool, in combination with conventional cytological diagnosis, before and during surgery.