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In the present study vascular density was measure in histopathological slides of the simple goiter (15 cases) and of the same proliferative condition of the thyroid gland (113 cases) including adenoma (29 cases) and carcinoma (16 cases). Epithelial antibody CD31 and vWF identified vessels with the help of semiautomatic image analysis system. It has been shown that the highest values were typical for neoplastic tumors. However significant overlap has been shown. Statistically significant differences were very weakly seen between neoplasm's and thyroid hyperfunction. Also differences between carcinomas and adenomas were of low significance. Probably this is because of great heterogeneity of carcinomatosus neoplasms included in this study. Unexpectedly there were also no statistically significant differences between simple goiter, hyperplasia and thyroid hyperfunction.

In the present study various AgNOR parameters were assessed in the computer-aided image analysis and involved the normal epithelium of colon both superficial and epithelium of crypts, adenomas and carcinomas of colon in humans. It indicated that the number and area of AgNOR dots was highest in carcinomas and decreased stepwise from carcinomas through adenomas and the epithelium of crypts to the superficial epithelium. Other parameters such as: the ratio of AgNOR dot area to nuclear area and the size of single dots were different only in the superficial epithelium. The number of AgNOR separate locations showed a tendency for higher values in neoplasms. In neoplastic lesions and normal epithelium there was a positive correlation (p < 0.0001) between AgNOR dot area and nuclear area.

NORs are the loops of DNA containing ribosomal genes which are associated with non-histonic argyrophilic proteins. It permits their identification by using specific argyrophilic staining. NORs are visualized in light microscopy as AgNOR dots or argyrophilic NOR dots. Neoplastic and proliferative cells show differences with respect to the number, area and distribution of AgNOR dots. Major difficulties in the analysis of AgNOR dots are caused by technical problems associated with staining and fixation of the tissue. In our study we found that correct fixation of nucleolar proteins associated with AgNORs was a decisive factor in correct interpretation of the results.

NORs are the loops of DNA that contain the sites of ribosomal genes around which the nucleolus is formed during telophase of mitosis. In light microscopy they can be visualized by simple silver staining technique as small dark dots within the nucleus. It has been recognized that in many neoplasms, especially malignant AgNORs are more numerous and often atypical when compared with benign tumors and normal tissue. We have introduced this novel technique to the fine needle cytology of thyroid neoplasms (n = 56). We have analyzed the number, the area of AgNORs, the number of clustered AgNORs in the nucleus and the ratio of AgNOR area to the nuclear area and the area of single AgNOR by means of semiautomatic computerized image analysis. We have studied cytological samples consisting of 7 simple goiters, 7 hyperplasias, 15 follicular adenomas, 7 oxyphilic follicular adenomas, 6 follicular carcinomas, 8 oxyphilic follicular carcinomas, 6 papillary adenocarcinomas. In this study we have demonstrated that some differences in the AgNORs value are associated with the type of tumor rather than with malignancy. Location of the AgNORs seems to be very typical for some types of tumors. For example in oxyphilic neoplasms they form single clusters in the nucleus and in papillary adenocarcinomas they form at least two abundant clusters. In other proliferative lesions of the thyroid gland location of AgNORs is less typical.