title: MIB-1 monoclonal antibody to determine proliferative activity of Ki-67 antigen as an adjunct to the histopathologic differential diagnosis of Spitz nevi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The histopathologic differential diagnosis of Spitz nevus (SN) from malignant melanoma (MM) may be difficult.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to determine the staining pattern and usefulness of MIB-1 antibody, which recognizes Ki-67 antigen in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, as an adjunct to the histopathologic differential diagnosis of SN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five compound SNs, 27 MMs, and 26 compound nondysplastic melanocytic nevi (MNs) were immunostained with the MIB-1 antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean counts of MIB-1--stained tumor cells of the epidermal and dermal components, both alone and together, were significantly lower in SNs and MNs than in MMs (P <.0001). The dermal counts showed the best discriminating power. In addition, the mean dermal/epidermal count ratios for MIB-1 in SNs and MNs (0.25 and 0.23, respectively) were significantly lower than the corresponding ratio (0.94) in MMs (P <.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MIB-1-stained tumor cell counts, especially of the dermal component, and dermal/epidermal MIB-1 count ratios may be helpful as an adjunct to the histopathologic differential diagnosis of SN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rambam Medical Center, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. dermatology@rambam.health.gov.il
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malkin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sabo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kerner
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D018332:Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D010232:Paraffin; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010232:Paraffin