Moc-31, fibronectin and CEA in the differential diagnosis of malignant effusions: an immunocytochemical study.
In discriminating benign and malignant origins of cytologically suspicious effusion smears a panel of antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Fibronectin (F) and MOC-31 was used with immuno-cytochemical techniques. One hundred and thirty seven effusions were studied of which 107 had a malignant and 30 a benign aetiology as determined by clinical and histological examination. Cytologically 24 were diagnosed as benign, 97 as malignant and 14 as suspicious. Staining for F was positive in all effusions of benign and 3 of malignant origin. MOC-31 was positive in 95 (88.8%) of effusions of malignant origin but none of benign origin. Positive CEA was observed in 43% of effusions of malignant origin and in 10 of benign origin. The combination of MOC-31 positivity measured the sensitivity and specificity of the cytological examination in cases where the cytological examination result was suspicious as did F positivity improve the sensitivity for a benign origin of the effusion. Positivity or negativity for CEA is less valuable than the other parameters.
University of Athens, Cytology Department, Athens, Greece.
P
P
Athanassiadou
M
M
Gonidi
A
A
Liossi
E
E
Petrakakou
L
L
Nakopoulou
C
C
Zerva
P
P
Athanassiades
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D005353:Fibronectins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins