Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2006; 114 - P13_172
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-933057

Proliferative activity of thyroid hürthle cell tumors using PCNA, Ki-67 and AgNOR methods

M Cornianu 1, IN Milos 2, A Milos 2, E Lazar 1, I Golu 2, I Zosin 2
  • 1University of Medicine and Pharmacy “V. Babes“, Department of Pathology, Timisoara, Romania
  • 2University of Medicine and Pharmacy “V. Babes“, Clinic of Endocrinology, Timisoara, Romania

Aim: We have undertaken an attempt to compare the application efficacy of the proliferative activity markers in differential diagnosis of thyroid Hürthle cell tumors using the PCNA and Ki-67 labeling and AgNOR visualization techniques.

Materials and methods: The present work is a retrospective analysis of proliferative potential in 40 Hürthle cell tumors: 10 Hürthle cell carcinomas (HCC) and 14 hiperplastic nodules with Hürthle cell metaplasia (HCM).

The evaluation of the mean number of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) per nucleus and the proliferative index (PI-the percentage of PCNA and Ki-67 positive cells) was performed using staining silver impregnation method and antibodies against PCNA (clone PC 10) and Ki-67 (clone MIB-1) in LSAB detection Kit and visualization with DAB (diaminobenzidine).

Results: The values of PI-PCNA, PI-Ki-67 as well as the mean AgNOR counts in nuclei of HCC, HCA and HCM were respectively: 54.2, 47.4 and 4.8; 37.4, 32.6 and 3.1; 31.3, 29.4 and 2.5.

Conclusions: Statistically significant differences were found in all the proliferative activity markers between malignant and benign tumors: HCC: HCA (p<0.01) and HCC: HCM (p<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between HCA and HCM for the same parameters.