title: PNL2 melanocytic marker in immunohistochemical evaluation of primary mucosal melanoma of the head and neck.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Histologic diagnosis of mucosal melanoma of the head and neck is difficult, requiring immunohistochemical stains which are less reliable than in cutaneous lesions. PNL-2 is a novel marker that has not been examined in mucosal melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine formalin-fixed tissue sections of mucosal melanoma were stained with PNL-2, human melanoma black (HMB)-45, Melan-A, S-100, and microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Disease in all 9 patients arose from the sinonasal mucosa. Rates of diffuse positive staining with the 4 stains were PNL-2 (77.8%), HMB-45 (77.8%), Melan-A (50%), S-100 (87.5%), and MITF (40%). In 3 patients, PNL2 staining was superior to Melan-A or MITF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report the first characterization of PNL-2 staining in head and neck mucosal melanoma. PNL-2 demonstrates high sensitivity for mucosal melanoma, likely superior to Melan-A and MITF, and comparable to HMB-45, with specificity superior to S-100. We advocate inclusion of PNL2 as an important adjunctive marker in the evaluation of these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Surgery Service, New York University Cancer Institute, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Luc G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Yong Hannah
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: DeLacure
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kutler
authors.forename: Youming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huan
authors.forename: Beverly Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism*; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor