A Comparative Study of Morphometric Analysis of Nucleolar Organizer Regions in Oral Leukoplakia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Significance of AgNOR as a Diagnostic Tool

Abstract

Background Silver stainable nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) have proven to exhibit utmost importance due to their higher occurrence in the nucleus especially in malignant cells than in normal. Thus, they assist in the examination of nucleolar structures and variations in nucleolar activity. Aim Quantitative and qualitative analysis in relation to the number and area of AgNOR in tissue sections of the normal oral mucosa (NOM), oral leukoplakia (OL), and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was the main aim of the study. Materials & method A total of 50 cases comprising 20 OL with dysplasia, 20 OSCC cases, and 10 samples of normal oral mucosa were taken. Silver nitrate (Sol A) & gelatin (Sol B) solutions were freshly prepared for staining the lesional slides. Results The mean value of nuclear profile area (A Nuc) was comparatively higher in oral leukoplakia i.e. 41.97 and in oral squamous cell carcinoma i.e. 62.36 in comparison to the control group where it was 36.19. The mean value of a single AgNOR profile area per nucleus (A NOR) was found to be comparatively lower in both study groups i.e. oral leukoplakia (2.76) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (1.61) in comparison to the control group (3.45) . The mean value of total AgNOR profile area per nucleus (TA NOR) and the number of profiles of AgNORs per nucleus (n NOR) were found higher in both study groups (oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma) as compared to normal oral mucosa of the control group. However, the findings of all four parameters of morphometric analysis were found to be significantly associated with disorder of oral mucosa i.e. cases of oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (P value <0.01). Conclusion It can thus be suggested that the mean AgNOR count displayed a higher value in OSCC. Hence, the number of AgNORs in nuclei increases as epithelial cells undergo malignant transformation which is designated that mean AgNOR count may contribute to establishing the prognosis of a lesion.

Computer-Assisted Morphometric Comparative Analysis of Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organizer Regions (AgNORs) in Leukoplakia With Dysplasia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…In this study, the nuclear profile area from the sections of 30 cases of OL demonstrated a mean value of 41.78 ± 0.46 µm 2 . This result was in accordance with the prior research done by Shabana et al [20] and Singh et al [17]. Shabana et al [20], in their research of 20 OL, observed a mean nuclear profile area of 33.13 ± 3.30 µm 2 .…”

“…In the present study, the nuclear profile area from the section of normal oral mucosa of 30 individuals showed a mean value of 35.93 ± 0.99 µm 2 . This finding was consistent with the prior research conducted by Cabrini et al [14], Thippeswamy et al [19], and Singh et al [17]. Cabrini et al [14] studied sections from 10 normal oral mucosa, and the mean nuclear profile area of normal oral mucosa showed a value of 44.88 ± 9.03 µm 2 [14].…”

“…Shabana et al [20], in their research of 20 OL, observed a mean nuclear profile area of 33.13 ± 3.30 µm 2 . Singh et al [17], in their study of 20 OL, observed a mean nuclear profile area of 41.97 ± 6.43 µm 2 .…”

“…Assessing cellular proliferation in histological material is crucial for conventional histopathology, and many methods can quantify it. Ideally, procedures should be simple, reproducible, and appropriate to normal histological and cytological preparations [17,18].…”

“…Thippeswamy et al [19] studied sections from 10 normal oral mucosa, and the mean nuclear profile area of normal oral mucosa showed a value of 41.42 ± 1.37 µm 2 [19]. Singh et al [17] studied sections from 10 normal oral mucosa, and the mean nuclear profile area of normal oral mucosa showed a value of 36.19 ± 7.83 µm 2 [17].…”