Comparison of Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organizer Regions in Leukoplakia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

Abstract

Objective:  To determine and compare the AgNOR staining parameters in premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity. Study Design: Comparative Study Setting: Pathology Department, PGMI, Lahore. Methodology:  Each of total 50 samples of premalignant and malignant lesions was stained with both H/E and AgNOR stain. After histological diagnosis in H/E stain, different AgNOR parameters were studied in each sample. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 18. Student’s t-test and Pearson’s Chi Square test were used to compare the quantitative and qualitative AgNORs parameters respectively between both study groups. p-value ≤ 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Group 1(Oral Leukoplakia) consisted of 15 males and 10 females with an age ranging from 28-80 years(mean= 52.2 ± 12.5) while group2 (Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma)

consisted of 13 males and 12 females with an age ranging from 38- 82 years (mean= 62.8± 12.4). Comparison of Mean AgNOR count (mAgNOR) and AgNOR Proliferative Index (pAgNOR) between both study groups by using student’s t-test showed significantly lower counts in group 1 as compared to group 2. Similarly, Comparison of variation in AgNOR size and AgNOR dispersion between both study groups by using Chi Square test showed a significant difference with p-value ≤ 0.05. Conclusion:  Premalignant lesions of the oral cavity exhibit significantly lower AgNORs counts and comparatively less AgNORs pleomorphism as compared to the malignant lesions of the oral cavity.