AgNOR distribution in normal and dysplastic laryngeal mucosa and in laryngeal epidermoid carcinomas

Samples of normal and dysplastic laryngeal mucosa and of laryngeal epidermoid carcinomas were submitted to the AgNOR silver staining technique. AgNORs were subdivided in large (LN) and small (SN) and counted separately along their sum (TN). Overlap of values is great between normal and mildly dysplastic mucosa and between moderate and severe dysplasia. Grouping together normal with mildly dysplastic mucosa, and moderate with severe dysplasia, their mean values show minimal overlap and the differences between them are highly significant. Plotting the mean values of these two groups and of carcinomas, the linear interpolations show a clearcut increase of values.