| Variable | Category | Benign lesions | Malignant lesions | Total |
| Elastic fibers (staining intensity) | ||||
|
| Negative (−ve) | 9 | 1 | 10 |
|
| Positive (+ve) | 8 | 8 | 16 |
|
| ++ve | 7 | 9 | 16 |
|
| +++ve | 1 | 7 | 8 |
|
| Total | 25 | 25 | 50 |
| Reticular fibers (staining intensity) | ||||
|
| Negative (−ve) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
|
| Positive (+ve) | 4 | 4 | 8 |
|
| ++ve | 9 | 11 | 20 |
|
| +++ve | 12 | 8 | 20 |
|
| Total | 25 | 25 | 50 |
| Nucleolus organizer regions (AgNORs) mean count | ||||
|
| <2 mean dots | 18 | 8 | 26 |
|
| 2 - 4 | 5 | 12 | 17 |
|
| 4 - 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
|
| >6 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
|
| Total | 25 | 25 | 50 |