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Background: Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an early response gene that is induced by growth factors, oncogenes and carcinogens and its expression is increased in various tumors. Increased expression of COX-2 plays a significant role in the development and growth of tumors by interfering in biological processes such as cell division, cellular immunity, cell adhesion, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 in keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KOT) in comparison with ameloblastoma and dentigerous cyst with regards to different clinical behavior and histopathological features of these lesions. Materials and Methods: Paraffined blocks of 45 cases including 15 cases of dentigerous cyst, 15 cases of KOT and 15 cases of ameloblastoma were stained with immunohistochemical method for COX-2. Five high-power fields of each sample were evaluated to determine the percentage of stained cells and the intensity of staining. Degree of immunoreactivity was obtained from the sum of two. Statistical evaluation was performed by the Kruskal-Wallis and ANOVA Mann-Whitney test (P < 0.05). Results: Overexpression of COX-2 in ameloblastoma and KOT was observed compared with dentigerous cyst (P < 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the expression of COX-2 in ameloblastoma and KOT (P = 0.148). Conclusion: The COX-2 expression in odontogenic tumors such as ameloblastoma and cystic neoplasm with aggressive behavior such as KOT increases. However, it does not seem that COX-2 affects the development and growth of cysts with noninvasive behavior like dentigerous cyst.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recently, the efficiency of thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) as a method of choice in evaluation and management of thyroid nodules has been questioned. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of FNA as compared to pathology results in diagnosis of thyroid nodules in Shahid Behashti Hospital of Babol, Iran, within 22 years. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on cytology samples of 225 patients who were undergoing thyroidectomy at Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Babol during 1990-2012. Patients’ age and gender, physician's experience in performing FNA, type and location of surgery, FNA samples and pathology results were recorded. According to the pathology reports, FNA results were divided into four groups i.e. inadequate, benign, malignant and suspicious. The pathology results were divided into benign and malignant groups. The results of both methods were compared with each other. FINDINGS: The sensitivity and specificity of FNA in diagnosis of thyroid nodules were 60% and 96%, respectively. Also, its positive and negative predictive values and diagnostic accuracy were 65%, 95% and 81.8%, respectively. Among the 225 cytology samples, 127 (56.7%), 47 (20.9%), 27 (12%) and 24 (10.7%) were benign, suspicious, malignant, and inadequate, respectively. Additionally, pathology results were benign and malignant in 150 (66.7%) and 75 (33.3%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: FNA was comparatively effective in diagnosis of thyroid nodules.