The usefulness of cytokeratin immunohistochemistry in detection of lymph node micrometastasis in neck dissection specimens.
OBJECTIVE
Our study was designed to find out the rate and the characteristics of micrometastasis in cervical lymph nodes using immunohistochemical staining.


METHODS
From 69 patients, 1710 lymph nodes negative for metastasis on hematoxylin-eosin stain, were examined. Immunohistochemical stain was performed using pan-cytokeratin AE1/AE3 antibody.


RESULTS
In 13 cases, occult lymph node metastasis was detected by immunohistochemical method. On retrospective review of the hematoxylin-eosin stain by the pathologist, lymph node metastasis was detected in 4 of 13 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Because the immunohistochemical method enhanced the detection rate of occult micrometastasis in cervical lymph nodes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients, it may be recommended for routine diagnostic use in patient with negative for a lymph node metastasis on routine hematoxylin-eosin stain.
Kwon
Soon-Young
SY
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Hyung-Jin
HJ
Woo
Jeong-Su
JS
Jung
Kwang-Yoon
KY
Kim
Insun
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D007633:Keratins