Background:
@EN Histological differentiation between malignant melanoma and benign melanocytic skin lesions is at times, a difficult task for the dermatopathologist. The AgNOR staining has been regarded as a useful tool in differentiating malignant melanoma
from
benign melanocytic nevi.
@ES Objective:
@EN We have carried out the AgNOR staining in a range of melanocytic lesion and try to assess the value of AgNOR staining in the identification of malignancy in melanocytic lesions.
@ES Method:
@EN Fifty seven melanocytic skin specimens were studied. These comprised 11 acquired melanocytic nevi, 11 congenital melanocytic nevi, 31 malignant melanomas and 4 atypical melanocytic hyperplasias.
@ES Result:
@EN The majority of benign nevus cells posessed one or two uniform AgNORs, whereas marked AgNOR pleomorphism was found in some melanoma cells, The number of AgNORs per nucleus averaged 1.24±0.12 in the 18 specimens of benign nevi and 2.10±0.61
in
the
25 specimens of malignant melanoma. In the cases of atypical melanocytic hyperplasia it was not possible to count on an adequate number of cells to give a meaningful result because of melanin pigment.
@ES conclusion:
@EN Although this study demonstrated a separation of average AgNOR counts between benign melanocytic nevi and maligmant melanomas, there was an overlap in counts among individual lesions. For clinical use, there should be a standard method by
which
AgNORs are counted in AgNOR staining. Melanin pigment masking the AgNORs can also be problem.
(Kor J Dermatol 1993;31(4):532~538)
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