Use of silver stained nucleolar organizer regions [AgNORs] as a diagnostic tool in fine needle aspiration cytology smears of palpable breast lumps

Different modalities are used for the diagnosis of breast lesions. Fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] is now the most popular, single modality for diagnosing different breast diseases. One hundred patients with breast lesions underwent fine needle aspiration. In this study the FNAC smears were stained with routine stains and colloidal silver method for "AgNORs" staining. The "AgNOR" dots were counted in each case and analyzed statistically. The difference of the mean "AgNOR" numbers per cell noted on FNAC smears between benign neoplastic diseases of breast [range 5.45 to 8.44; mean 6.87; SD 0.92] and malignant neoplastic diseases of breast [range 12.94 to 25.38; mean 18.51; SD 2.90] was very highly significant with no overlap between the ranges of mean "AgNOR" counts in these groups. It is concluded from this study that colloidal silver staining technique for "AgNORs" has a valuable cytological diagnostic significance in breast tumours. It is suggested that the technique should be employed as a special stain on FNAC smears of breast lesions

Audit of 100 cases of space occupying lesions of brain

Brain tumors comprise 10% of all tumors and account for the most common tumors of childhood. Peak incidence is seen at 5th decade. Supratentorial tumors are present in adults and Infratentorial tumors are frequent in childhood. In this study, 100 cases of SOL [space occupying lesion] brain were received as biopsies or as whole specimens fixed in 10% formal in. Out of the total 100 cases, male to female ratio was 61: 39.Highest number of cases was seen in ages 51 years and above. Out of the total of 100 tumors, 47 were benign and 53 were malignant tumors. Among the benign tumors, following cases were reported: Meningioma, 24; Pituitary adenoma, 12; Schwannoma, 09; Choroid plexus papilloma, 01 and Neurofibroma, 01. Among the malignant tumors ,following types were seen: Glioblastoma multiforme, 12; Metastatic carcinoma, 08; Fibrillary astrocytoma, 08; Anaplastic astrocytoma, 08; Medulloblastoma, 06; Oligodendroglioma, 03; Gemistocytic astrocytoma, 03; Ependymoma, 03; Pilocytic astrocytoma, 01 and subependymal gia nt cell astrocytoma [SEGA], 01. Thus, the commonest benign tumor reported was classical meningioma and commonest malignant tumor was glioblastoma multiforme