[Morphometric evaluation and AgNOR number in c-erbB-2 positive and negative breast carcinoma: absence of correlation]

A total of 722 nuclei from 22 fine needle aspirates (FNA) of breast carcinomas have been subjected to quantitative nuclear analysis. Form Factor, Nuclear Area and Nuclear Major Diameter were determined for each case. An equal number of nuclei from as many aspirates from benign breast nodules was used as control. The aim of the study was to evaluate the predictive value of these parameters on the result of the immunohistochemical determination of the c-erb B-2 antigen in the tumour mass, since 6 of the 22 carcinomas were positive to this antigen. None of these parameters singly or in combination proved of any value in predicting the positive or negative result of the c-erb B-2 antigen determination. Nuclei both positive and negative for the antigen were located within the large cell carcinomas. Nucleolar Organizer Regions were also determined on the histologic sections of both groups to assess any statistically significant difference not only between controls and carcinomas, but also between c-erb B-2 positive and negative cases. Both NOR mean numbers and NOR cytograms were of no use, since no difference was found between c-erb B-2 positive and negative cases.