Biomaterial Database

Influence of fixation and preparation on the AgNOR distribution in routinely processed breast cancer specimens. 1994

S Biesterfeld, and E Ruoss, and P Hufnagl, and H Martin

Institut für Pathologie, Rheinisch-Westfälischen Technischen Hochschule Aachen, Deutschland.

AgNOR staining is mostly performed on unstained sections from paraffin-embedded material. This well-established application may be limited, if only a small biopsy or cytologic material is available. In this study, we analyzed the influence of different routine preparation types from histology and cytology on AgNOR staining results. 15 cases of ductal breast carcinoma were investigated using five different preparations per case: frozen sections, sections from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded, previously frozen material, sections from routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded fresh material, alcohol-fixed and air-dried cytological smears. After application of a modified combined Feulgen-AgNOR staining technique, AgNOR quantification on 150 nuclei per specimen was performed by TV-image analysis. For each preparation type adequate AgNOR staining results were obtained. Although there were a number of statistically significant correlations, the median values for the mean nuclear area, the mean number of AgNORs per cell, the mean AgNOR area per cell and the mean AgNOR sum area per cell were quite different within the 5 preparation types. This means that results, obtained with one preparation type, may not be taken as standard for a different one.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009697	Nucleolus Organizer Region	The chromosome region which is active in nucleolus formation and which functions in the synthesis of ribosomal RNA.	Nucleolar Organizer,Nucleolar Organizers,Nucleolus Organizer Regions,Organizer Region, Nucleolus,Organizer Regions, Nucleolus,Organizer, Nucleolar,Organizers, Nucleolar,Region, Nucleolus Organizer,Regions, Nucleolus Organizer
D010232	Paraffin	A mixture of solid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. It has a wide range of uses including as a stiffening agent in ointments, as a lubricant, and as a topical anti-inflammatory. It is also commonly used as an embedding material in histology.	Parafilm
D001943	Breast Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST.	Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D002288	Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous	An adenocarcinoma producing mucin in significant amounts. (From Dorland, 27th ed)	Carcinoma, Colloid,Carcinoma, Mucinous,Adenocarcinomas, Mucinous,Carcinomas, Colloid,Carcinomas, Mucinous,Colloid Carcinoma,Colloid Carcinomas,Mucinous Adenocarcinoma,Mucinous Adenocarcinomas,Mucinous Carcinoma,Mucinous Carcinomas
D005260	Female		Females
D005615	Freezing	Liquids transforming into solids by the removal of heat.	Melting
D006652	Histological Techniques	Methods of preparing tissue for examination and study of the origin, structure, function, or pathology.	Histologic Technic,Histologic Technics,Histologic Technique,Histologic Techniques,Histological Technics,Technic, Histologic,Technics, Histologic,Technique, Histologic,Techniques, Histologic,Histological Technic,Histological Technique,Technic, Histological,Technics, Histological,Technique, Histological,Techniques, Histological
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000431	Ethanol	A clear, colorless liquid rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed throughout the body. It has bactericidal activity and is used often as a topical disinfectant. It is widely used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceutical preparations as well as serving as the primary ingredient in ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.	Alcohol, Ethyl,Absolute Alcohol,Grain Alcohol,Alcohol, Absolute,Alcohol, Grain,Ethyl Alcohol
D012834	Silver	An element with the atomic symbol Ag, atomic number 47, and atomic weight 107.87. It is a soft metal that is used medically in surgical instruments, dental prostheses, and alloys. Long-continued use of silver salts can lead to a form of poisoning known as ARGYRIA.