Diagnostic value of nucleolar organizer regions in fine needle aspiration of breast lumps

ABSTRACT

This study comprised 52 cases of FNA biopsy specimens of breast lumps. The smears were stained by H and E and a modified silver one step staining technique for demonstration of AgNORs. A correlation was done between the number, size and distribution of AgNOR and the cytological findings shown by H and E stained FNA specimens. Using t-test AgNOR revealed a significant difference between the total number of AgNORs of 12 benign breast lesions [3.82] and of those 36 malignant cases [11.27]. Silver staining AgNOR results of the 4 suspicious cases were in favor of malignancy