Role of proliferative markers in prostatic lesions

Prostatic lesions on routine H&E stain sometimes cause diagnostic dilemma specially in premalignant lesions like A.A.H. and P.I.N. Proliferative markers (AgNOR, P.C.N.A) are of great help in this grey zone. Total 50 cases studied and provisional diagnosis after HIE stain revealed that 37 cases were B.H.P., 5 cases were A.A.H., 1 case was P.I.N and 7 cases were adenocarcinoma. Proliferative marker study revealed AgNOR count of B.H.P as (0.4 -2.5)/cell, of A.A.H as (1.5-3.2)/cell, of P.I.N as 4.8/cell and adenocarcinoma as (4.3-5.4)/cell. P.C.N.A index of B.H.P was (2-8)%, of A.A.H (17-35)%, of P.I.N 40% and of carcinoma (54-82)%. Proliferative marker study was of great help in distinguishing between benign and malignant and specially premalignant lesions like A.A.H and P.I.N, where routine histopathology diagnosis was confusing. In the study, P.C.N.A was found to be superior to AgNOR since the values for interpretation was wider.