Prognostic implication of silver‐binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma

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Abstract
Silver‐binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) were counted in sections from formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue blocks of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Thirty‐nine cases, that comprised poor prognostic group (n= 19) and good prognostic group (n= 20), were examined with respect to the relation between AgNOR counts and histologic grading, and correlation between AgNOR counts and prognosis. The pooled mean AgNOR counts were: Grade 1 carcinomas, 6.39 ±1.67 (mean ± SD; n= 35); Grade 2, 9.74 ± 1.72 (n= 3). Mean AgNOR count of Grade 3 was 6.19 ± 2.37 (n= 1). The pooled mean AgNOR count in poor prognostic group was higher than that in good prognostic group. Five‐year survival rate of the cases with high AgNOR counts (≥ 6.5) was significantly lower than that with low AgNOR counts (< 6.5). High AgNOR counts are highly suggestive of poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.