[Nucleolar organizer regions enumeration in testicular teratoma]

To differenciate the benign and malignant testis teratoma. We investigated the value of AgNORs enumeration in 10 normal testis tissues, 6 benign teratomas and 7 malignant teratomas. The shape of the AgNORs in normal and benign teratoma was round, regular, with clear boundary and even size, setting in the center or the margin of the nucleus. In the malignant teratoma, the shape was irregular with unclear boundary and uneven size, setting in the near center or scattered in the nucleus. AgNORs enumeration: normal group: 1.56 +/- 0.17, benign teratoma: 2.40 +/- 0.26, malignant teratoma: 5.24 +/- 0.36. There was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The range of AgNORs enumeration in benign and malignant teratoma was separate. These results indicate that the mathod is helpful in differentiating benign and malignant testicular teratoma, and may provide an objective parameter.