title: Immunocytochemical evaluation of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether immunocytochemistry can distinguish pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) among non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor touch imprint cytologic specimens of 109 lung cancers were studied. Immunocytochemistry was done using a total of 8 primary antibodies: chromogranin A, synaptophysin, neural cell adhesion molecule, neuron specific enolase, CK34betaE12, thyroid transcription factor-1, cytokeratin 18 and E-cadherin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  If 2 or 3 antibodies of chromogranin A, synaptophysin and neural cell adhesion molecule were stained positive and CK34betaE12 was not stained, pulmonary LCNEC can be selected accurately among other NSCLCs with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reveals that immunocytochemistry can help distinguish LCNEC of the lung from other NSCLCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan. endo@idac.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakurada
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Yasuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor