title: Application of immunohistochemistry to cytology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The uses of monoclonal antibodies via immunochemistry have been reported frequently within the literature using various methodologies with applications to cytology specimens. The direct application of immunochemistry to cytology may have a variety of pitfalls that the general pathologist familiar with its application to histology may be unaware of when applying it prospectively to patient specimens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review common pitfalls when applying immunochemistry to cytology specimens and to suggest approaches to the more common differential dilemmas that apply to a variety of cytology specimens that could be seen in a general pathology practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors' own experiences of applying immunochemistry to cytopathology specimens within an academic setting along with supportive data from the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunochemistry can be used to increase the predictability of a cytology diagnosis if care is taken with the cytology sample preparation methodology and there is judicious use of select monoclonal antibody panels to support a specific cytology diagnosis. Up-to-date evidence-based antibody databases should be used when selecting antibody panels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, Mail Code #7750, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. fowler@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: Larry J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Whitney A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Lachar
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal