ABSTRACT
Background: Squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix is the most common subtype of cervical cancer and it usually accounts for 80-90% of the cases. These carcinomas mostly grow at the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ). The tumour tends to grow outward showing an exophytic growth especially at the squamocolumnar junction outside the external uterine wall whereas cancer tends to grow along the cervical canal showing an endophytic growth pattern where the SCJ is located within the cervical canal. This study has experimentally shown the role of AgNOR and Ki-67 scores in tumour proliferation. Methods: Cervical specimens were obtained and prepared in a specified fashion as described. The samples were de-waxed and staining was done with AgNOR. Then, the AgNOR was counted and scoring was done. Again, the samples were also stained with Ki-67. Results: This study has included 235 cases from the Department of Pathology of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, Kanpur, India. The mean value of AgNOR count in the Control group came to be 10.62�45 while the mean AgNOR count was found to be 10.62�45, 15.10�79, 18.39�67, 19.75�74 and 19.59�59 for in-Situ SCC, well-differentiated SCC, moderately differentiated SCC, poorly differentiated SCC, SCC with basaloid differentiation, respectively. Conclusion: The study confirmed that AgNOR count increases with a higher grade of malignancy. It was concluded that AgNOR and Ki-67 scores can be used as an efficient predictor of tumour proliferation.