Proliferative assessment using agnors in dentigerous cyst, keratocystic odontogenic tumor, unicystic ameloblastoma and multicystic ameloblastoma

Objective: To assess the usefulness of AgNORsas quantitative and qualitative criteria in assessing the proliferation potential of Dentigerous cyst, Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumor (KCOT), Conventional ameloblastoma and Unicysticameloblastoma. Materials and Methods: Histological sections were stained usingsilver nitrate method and AgNOR dots counted at 100x magnification. Quantitative variations were assessed in terms of numbers and qualitative variations were assessedin terms of size, shape and pattern of distribution of the individual AgNOR dots. Results were expressed as Mean ± Standard Deviation, range values and coefficient of variation. One way ANOVA was applied to attain comparison between groups and within group. Post-Hoc Tukey’s test was used for evaluating honestly significant difference between groups. A p-value of 0.05 or less was considered for statistical significance. Results: Mean number of NORs in each odontogenic lesion indicated a significant difference between the four groups (P<.01) except between keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) and Unicysticameloblastoma (P<0.95). In relation to thequalitativeassessmentof AgNORs, dentigerous cysts had a single or few large dots within the nucleus, representing the nucleolus, while Unicystic ameloblastoma and keratocystic odontogenic tumor exhibited discrete small dots within the nucleolus, andconventionalameloblastomasexhibited fine black dots dispersed throughout the nucleoplasm. Conclusion: AgNORshave a direct positive correlation with proliferative potential of odontogenic cyst and tumors.