[Measurement of the number, size and location of AgNORs in histologic sections of astrocytomas and bladder carcinoma].

Nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) are associated with proliferative activity of tumors. An image analysis method is presented in this paper by which it is possible to analyze NOR location within the nucleus and relative to each other. Several features which characterized locations were measured in 20 urinary bladder carcinomas, eight astrocytomas, and two glioblastomas. Correlations were found to exist between those features, on the one hand, and tumor malignancy, on the other. They were particularly close in astrocytoma. Mean distance among NORs and closeness to the nuclear membrane were found to increase, as well, along with aggravating malignancy. As to the urinary bladder carcinomas examined, an unambiguous difference was found to exist between G 1 and G 1-2 carcinomas.