title: Application of immunohistochemistry in breast pathology: a review and update.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immunohistochemistry is a valuable tool in routine breast pathology, used for both diagnostic and prognostic parameters. The diagnostic immunomarkers are the scope of this review. Most breast lesions can be diagnosed on routine hematoxylin-eosin sections; however, in several scenarios, such as morphologically equivocal cases or metastatic tumors of unknown primary, the appropriate application of immunohistochemistry adds true value in reaching an accurate diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diagnostic utility of the most commonly studied immunomarkers in the field of breast pathology by review of the literature, using the database of indexed articles in PubMed (US National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland) from 1976 to 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review, and author's research data and personal practice experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The appropriate use of immunohistochemistry by applying a panel of immunomarkers and using a standardized technical and interpretational method will complement the morphologic assessment and aid in the accurate classification of difficult breast lesions and the identification of metastasis from a breast primary.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor