Histopathological and immunohistochemical approach for characterization of undifferentiated malignant tumors

Abstract EN

Objective: To determine the role of immunohistochemistry in characterization of undifferentiated malignant tumors.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining (IHC) performed was Streptavidin-biotin method on paraffin sections, using mono- or polyclonal antibodies and kits manufactured by DAKO corporation (Dako, Denmark A/S).

The technique was applied on 127 cancer cases reported as undifferentiated malignant tumors over a 12 month period, from July 2008 to August 2009.

Results: Undifferentiated malignant tumors were more frequently located in the respiratory tract 30 (23.6%), followed by the gastrointestinal tract 25 (19.7%), lymph node 19 (14.9%) and bone/soft tissue 19 (14.9%).

Among these, 75 (82.7%) cases were primary and 22 (17.3%) metastatic.

Application of immunohistochemistry resulted in characterization of 112 (88.2%) cases.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 21 (16.5%) was at the top of the diagnosed list followed by adenocarcinoma 20 (15.7%), sarcoma 17 (13.4%), and small undifferentiated carcinoma 15 (11.8%).

Conclusions: Immunohistochemistry is a very helpful tool for characterization of undifferentiated malignant tumors