Silver-binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in bronchial tumors

Various AgNOR parameters were measured using the computer-aided image analysis in the normal bronchial epithelium (n = 13), in squamous cell carcinoma (n = 25) and in small-cell carcinoma (n = 11). The number and area of AgNOR dots were the highest in squamous cell carcinoma. In small cell carcinoma and in the normal epithelium the values were significantly lower. The number of AgNOR separate locations was higher in tumors in general. The size of single AgNOR dots showed differences between squamous cell carcinoma and small-cell carcinoma. Ratio of AgNOR dot area to nuclear area was similar in various pathological lesions and normal epithelium. There was a positive correlation ( < or = 0.0001) between the number and area of dots, the number of AgNOR separate locations, the area of single AgNOR dots on one hand and nuclear area on the other.