title: Review of histologic and immunohistochemical features of spindle cell carcinomas (carcinosarcomas) of the larynx.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laryngeal carcinosarcomas pose a significant diagnostic challenge to the pathologist; differential diagnosis needs histochemical and immunohistochemical investigations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of charts of the pathology database was performed by a search for carcinosarcoma cases. Immunohistochemistry was performed on the representative paraffin blocks in all cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study included a total of 5 cases of carcinosarcomas of the larynx. The sarcomatoid component of the tumor was arranged in various patterns mimicking mesenchymal malignancies. Tumor cells were seen arranged in fascicles (a patient), in a storiform (3 patients), or in a solid (a case) pattern. The epithelial markers EMA and AE1/AE3 were positive in all 5 patients, as well as vimentin and CK34betaE12.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunohistochemical studies of epithelial and mesenchymal markers (such as AE1/AE3, epithelial membrane antigens, vimentin, desmin, and S-100) are fundamental to diagnose the tumor, although they may widely vary.
authors.affiliation: From the *Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Ospedale Umberto I, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Stefani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boffano
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bongioannini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor