ARGYROPHILIC NUCLEOLAR ORGANIZER REGIONS MAY HELP THE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC DISTINCTION BETWEEN CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS AND PANCREATIC DUCTAL ADENOCARCINOMA

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether the number of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) could be of diagn ostic significance in differentiating between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Methods: The number of AgNORs was e numerated in biopsy specimens of normal pancreas, chronic pancreatitis , and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Results: The number of AgNORs was lower in patients with normal pancreas than in patients with chron ic pancreatitis or pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In addition, the number of AgNORs was significantly lower in chronic pancreatitis than in panc reatic ductal adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The diagnosis o f pancreatic adenocarcinoma is usually clear. Difficulties can be enco untered, however, in cases of chronic pancreatitis, specially when bio psy material is small. Our results suggest that the number of AgNORs m ay help in distinguishing between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, especially in diagnostically difficult specimen s.