To compare of AgNOR and MI methods in transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder and to study correlation between tumor grade

This study was designed to compare AgNOR and MI methods which are known as proliferation indexes in transitional celi carcinoma of urinary bladder (TCC) and to study correlation and regression between grade and AgNOR and MI methods. At the same time we aimed to identify any threshold valve which could help determine grade and prognosis. In this study, 102 cases of TCC were involved which were diagnosed between 2000 and 2003 in the Pathology Department of Meram Medical Faculty, Selcuk University. As control group, thirthy cystitis cases whose epithelia were normal in the surface apperance were chosen. Microscopic features of the cases were retrospectively re-evaluated in the light of latest literatüre. To grade TCC cases we chose the system proposed by Ash. Cases were re-evaluated independently of their previous diagnoses Staining and counting systems proposed for AgNOR by Crocker were used when counting AgNOR spots, spots stained black with silver in the nucleolus (AgNOR I) and those both in nucleus and nucleolus (AgNOR II) were counted, for each case in 100 cells without noticing size and distribution. When performing MI method proposed by Simpson, we calculated possible cell and mitosis counts in ten different microscopic areas. The number obtained by a ratio of total mitosis count to possile cell count was accepted as MI and denominator was expressed as 1000. We have found that AgNOR and MI values increased associating grade of the tumor. We could demonstrate a correlation between MI and grade though there was not such a correlation.