Distinction between cells in serous effusions using a panel of antibodies.
In serous effusions the distinction between reactive mesothelial cells and malignant cells (especially adenocarcinoma cells and malignant mesothelial cells) is frequently a cause of diagnostic difficulty. The present paper describes the immunocytochemical staining of cells in 76 effusions from 71 patients with different malignancies. In 91% of the effusions obtained from patients with adenocarcinomas, the cells stained positive for anti-EMA, 94% for anti-CEA, 64% for anti-LeuM1-antigen and 75% for anti-keratins. In more than 90% of the cases the reactive mesothelial cells stained positive for anti-keratins, but not for anti-EMA, anti-CEA or anti-LeuM1-antigen. It is concluded that a panel of the antibodies against EMA, CEA, LeuM1-antigen and keratins is valuable in the distinction between adenocarcinoma cells, malignant mesothelial cells and reactive mesothelial cells in serous effusions.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000906:Antibodies; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000276:immunology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000473:pathology*; D018396:Mucin-1; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000473:pathology*
D000906:Antibodies; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018396:Mucin-1; D007633:Keratins; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens