title: The utility of immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of gynecologic disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immunohistochemistry has assumed an increasing role in the identification and characterization of gynecologic disorders including lesions with deceptively bland morphology, uncommon and underdiagnosed neoplasms, and neoplasms with specific genetic alterations associated with overexpression or loss of expression of specific proteins. The diagnostic accuracy has been significantly improved owing to the discovery and increasing experience with the tumor-associated biomarkers, and the increasing demand for precise tumor classification to assess suitability for the expanding therapeutic modalities including clinical trials.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To differentiate lesions of the gynecologic tract through the use of effective immunohistochemical panels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review and authors' personal practice experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of diagnostic and prognostic immunohistochemical panels has enabled pathologists to better guide therapeutic decisions and to better predict the clinical outcome. It is now well established that the use of ancillary testing, including immunohistochemistry, has a significant power in the identification, differentiation, and classification of reactive, premalignant, and malignant gynecologic disorders. This article discusses the utilities and pitfalls of the commonly used immunohistochemical markers in the context of overlapping morphologic features encountered in the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Geisinger Health System, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (Dr Kaspar);
authors.forename: Hanna G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kaspar
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Crum
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor