Argyrophilia in nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) in adenoid cystic carcinoma and polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the salivary glands.

Nine cases of adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) and three cases of polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinomas (PLGA) of the salivary glands from the Surgical Oral Pathology Service of the University of São Paulo School of Dentistry were examined by means of the silver-staining nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) technique. Quantitative and dimensional analyses of NORs were carried out. Our findings suggest that solid and cribriform patterns of ACC have a higher cellular activity than that presented by tubular ACC and PLGA.