[Diagnostic value of AgNOR staining in differentiation between small cell carcinoma and benign lymphocyte in bronchial biopsy]

ABSTRACT

In some bronchial biopsies, differentiation between small cell carcinoma and severe lymphocytic infiltration of bronchial mucosa may be difficult. The aim of our study was to evaluate usefulness of AgNOR [Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organizer Region] staining method in this differentiation. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues of 30 cases of small cell carcinoma and 30 cases of bronchial mucosa with benign lymphocytic infiltration were selected. Three microscopic slides from each case were prepared and stained for AgNOR, LCA [leukocytic Commn Antigen] and cytokeratin using Immunohistochemical method for the last two. In small cell carcinoma the mean number of AgNOR count was 4.97 per cell, and in lymphocytes it was 1.30[P<0.001]. The percentage of cells which demonstrated at least 3 AgNOR dots were 88.17% and 6.73% in small cell carcinoma and lymphocytes respectively [P<0.001]. The percentage of cells which exhibited at least 5 AgNOR dots were 55.67% and 0.6% respectively. AgNOR technique is a useful procedure for making differentiation between small cell carcinoma and lymphocytic infiltration in bronchial endoscopic biopsyies