Silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions in normal and dysplastic cervical lesions: correlation with DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction by flow cytometry

AgNOR Pleomorphic Count as a Tumor Marker in Cervical Carcinogenesis and Feasibility of Its Introduction in Cervical Cancer Screening Programs to Discriminate High-Risk Cases of Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Cervix

BACKGROUND

AgNOR pleomorphism has been widely used for its diagnostic importance in differentiating premalignant and malignant lesions of different human neoplasms. However, an evaluation of its potential for discriminating cases of high-risk squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix (SIL) has been rarely attempted.

AIM

The tumor marker potential of AgNOR pleomorphism counts was assessed by correlating high and low mean counts in low-grade SIL (LSIL) cases with persistence or regression of the lesion and HPV positivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 115 LSIL cases selected for the study were registered from the ongoing cervical cancer screening of the rural population of Lucknow West. Silver nitrate staining for AgNOR counts and HPV DNA testing were done in all 115 cases.

RESULTS

The AgNOR counts in the 115 LSIL cases revealed low counts in 92 and high counts in 23 cases. Follow-up, available in 107 cases, revealed persistence of the lesion in 21 of the 23 cases with high counts and in 4 of the 84 cases with low counts. HPV positivity showed a strong correlation with high counts. Persistence of LSIL was also more frequent with high AgNOR counts and in HPV-positive cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed a correlation of high mean AgNOR counts with HPV positivity and persistence of LSIL.

T lymphocyte subsets determination and DNA ploidy analysis in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant ascites

Differentiating malignant from benign ascites often leads to confusion and an inability to exclude its multitude of causes in many patients. In the present study, T lymphocyte subsets and DNA ploidy in ascitic fluid were detected by flow cytometer. There were significant differences in T lymphocyte subsets between benign and malignant ascites. For malignant ascites, the sensitivity of DNA aneuploid is 75.6%, the specificity is 79.0%, and the accuracy is 77.6%. The results demonstrate that T lymphocyte subsets determination and DNA ploidy analysis can be used in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant ascites.