Nucleolar organizer regions in breast cytology material.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the presence of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) by the argyrophil NOR (AgNOR) technique on scrape cytology on breast lumps.

STUDY

DESIGN

The study group consisted of 112 breast lumps that were sent for frozen section and included fibrocystic disease (52 cases), fibroadenomas (15 cases) and carcinomas (45 cases). Scrape cytology was performed on each case, and the number of AgNOR dots was recorded for 50 cells and the mean value calculated.

RESULTS

The mean AgNOR counts were statistically significantly higher in malignant lesions in comparison to either fibroadenomas or fibrocystic changes.

CONCLUSION

The AgNOR technique could be of use in cytologic material as an adjunct to fine needle aspiration of breast lesions.