title: Neuroendocrine carcinomas: role of immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy.
abstract: Neuroendocrine tumors occur in many sites of the body and can present significant diagnostic problems when poorly differentiated. To identify a tumor as neuroendocrine, pathologists commonly use either immunocytochemistry or electron microscopy. In this report, the various immunocytochemical reagents are reviewed along with the ultrastructural features of neuroendocrine tumors. Site-specific variations in neuroendocrine tumors are discussed. A cost-effectiveness evaluation was performed on tumors from one laboratory which showed that electron microscopy was a less expensive diagnostic modality if more than three antibodies were necessary to arrive at the correct pathological diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, LDS Hospital (Intermountain Health Care), and the University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84143, USA.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Yowell
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Flinner
mesh_terms: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000191:economics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor