The diagnostic value of nucleolar organizer regions in oral lichen planus : a preliminary study

Abstract EN

AAim of the study : Nucleolar Organizer Regions (AgNORs) are associated with proliferative activity and represent a diagnostic aid and prognostic marker in several neoplastic and non-neoplastic entities.

Methods : 4 μm tissue sections taken from 15 cases of oral lichen planus and 5 specimens of normal epithelium were stained by sliver nitrate and evaluated for AgNOR count.

Results: The mean AgNORs count shows significant difference between normal epithelium and oral lichen planus (P< 0.001), and there was no difference between reticular and erosive lichen planus in AgNOR counts.

Conclusion : AgNOR count expressed as pAgNOR>2 appear to be a useful tool indistinguishing between normal epithelium and oral lichen planus lesions and should be part of the routine histopathology report of oral lichen planus especially erosive-atrophic types.