[Nucleolus organizer regions (agnors) and Ki-67 antigens expression from the cervix and cervical canal smears with respect to changes in ascus and AGUS (atypical cells of undetermined significance) according to Bethesda Cytological System of Classification].

OBJECTIVES: The cytologic report written by a cytopathologist on the basis of smears from the cervix and cervical canal ought to give detailed and worthwhile information which allows making appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. The diagnosis of atypical cells of unspecified importance (ASCUS and AGUS) ought to have clinicians to carry out further diagnostic histopathologic procedures in order to explain the pathologic character of processes going on in the female reproductive organ. This is because such pathological states may as well spell could mean reactive, preinvasive as neoplastic changes of invasive character.

DESIGN: This problem has led to carry out a research in order to examine the proliferative potential of cells in cytological smears (Ki-67, AgNORs) and to answer whether this potential allows us to qualify atypical cells as changes of reactive or neoplastic type.

MATERIALS: In our study there were estimated 97 cases of cytological smears from the cervix and cervical canal. In this paper, immunohistochemical methods, and staining techniques developed by Ploton et al. in the detection of AgNORs and in the examination of Ki-67 antigen were used.

CONCLUSIONS: 1. The average number of AgNORs in cell nucleus was highest in ASCUS cells and exceedingly higher in CIN 1 and CIN 3.2. The areal ratio of AgNORs to that of the cell nucleus was highest in HSIL and cancer cells, least in ASCUS. 3. In ASCUS and LSIL, AgNORs were minute and scattered whereas they were large and centrally located in HSIL and cancer cells.

RESULTS: We found that analysis of AgNORs makes easier the differentiation of ASCUS and LSIL cells from HSIL and neoplastic ones according to the classification system of Bethesda.