Characteristic Ber-EP4 and EMA expression in sebaceoma is immunohistochemically distinct from basal cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
There is considerable overlap between the histological features of sebaceoma and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The distinction between these two tumours is important due to the often more locally aggressive nature of BCC and the association of sebaceoma with the Muir-Torre syndrome. The aim of this study was to describe the immunohistochemical reactivity of the cells in sebaceoma to Ber-EP4 and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and investigate the utility of this panel to differentiate sebaceoma from basal cell carcinoma.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemistry of 25 sebaceomas for Ber-EP4 and EMA revealed unequivocal negative expression of Ber-EP4 in 24 of 25 sebaceomas. A single case exhibited focal weak Ber-EP4 staining, predominantly in mature sebocytes and in < 10% of the tumour cells. EMA was not expressed in the germinative cells of sebaceoma, but was expressed strongly in approximately 50% of mature sebocytes in all cases and highlighted the cytoplasmic vacuoles. We reviewed the immunoreactivity of 51 cases of nodular BCCs and found moderate or strong BerEP4 expression in all cases with never less than 20% of the tumour staining. Expression of EMA was uncommon in BCC (moderate or strong in 8%) and was confined to keratotic or squamoid areas.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of Ber-EP4 in combination with EMA, both widely used immunomarkers in histopathology, is a helpful aid in distinguishing sebaceoma from nodular BCC.
Fan
Y S
YS
Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Carr
R A
RA
Sanders
D S A
DS
Smith
A P
AP
Lazar
A J F
AJ
Calonje
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018294:Neoplasms, Adnexal and Skin Appendage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018396:Mucin-1; C115012:human epithelial antigen-125; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm