Silver-binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in tumors of colon.

In the present study various AgNOR parameters were assessed in the computer-aided image analysis and involved the normal epithelium of colon both superficial and epithelium of crypts, adenomas and carcinomas of colon in humans. It indicated that the number and area of AgNOR dots was highest in carcinomas and decreased stepwise from carcinomas through adenomas and the epithelium of crypts to the superficial epithelium. Other parameters such as: the ratio of AgNOR dot area to nuclear area and the size of single dots were different only in the superficial epithelium. The number of AgNOR separate locations showed a tendency for higher values in neoplasms. In neoplastic lesions and normal epithelium there was a positive correlation (p < 0.0001) between AgNOR dot area and nuclear area.