Role of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of undifferentiated tumors involving the skin.
Twenty undifferentiated skin tumors were examined by immunostaining in an attempt to achieve more precise identification. Light microscopy yielded only a differential diagnosis, whereas immunostaining of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections with a panel of antibodies to intermediate filaments and other cell components led to a definitive diagnosis. Four cytokeratin-positive epithelial tumors were subtyped into squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas with the use of antibodies to different cytokeratin polypeptides. Fifteen vimentin-positive tumors were subdivided into malignant melanomas with the use of antibody to S-100 protein, lymphomas with the use of antibody to immunoglobulin, and mesenchymal tumors (angiosarcomas, atypical fibroxanthomas, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and meningiomas) with the use of antibody to S-100 protein, factor VIII, and lysozyme. One desmin-positive tumor was diagnosed as a leiomyosarcoma of the skin. A scheme is presented for using immunohistochemistry to facilitate the diagnosis of undifferentiated tumors involving the skin.
D000906:Antibodies; D003893:Desmin / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004817:Epidermis / Q000032:analysis; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis
D000906:Antibodies; D003893:Desmin; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins