Recent years have seen the publication of many articles investigating the value of
antibodies against
inhibin in diagnostic surgical pathology. This review concentrates on the uses of
inhibin staining in gynecological pathology.
alpha-inhibin is diagnostically the most useful antibody and is a sensitive immunohistochemical marker of most ovarian
sex cord-stromal tumors and, as such, is of value in the diagnosis of this heterogeneous group of
neoplasms that can be confused morphologically with a wide range of other
tumors. Because the antibody is not entirely specific for ovarian
sex cord-stromal tumors, it should always be used as part of a larger panel.
alpha-inhibin staining may also be of value in confirming late recurrence or
metastasis of an ovarian
sex cord-stromal tumor, especially a
granulosa cell tumor. Sex cord-like elements within uterine
tumors resembling ovarian sex cord
tumors are also commonly immunoreactive with
alpha-inhibin, perhaps indicating true sex cord differentiation.
alpha-inhibin staining may also be of value in cytological preparations in confirming a functional
cyst and excluding a
cyst or
cystadenoma of epithelial origin. Syncytiotrophoblastic cells are also immunoreactive, as are most
trophoblastic tumors. Thus, positive staining may be of value in confirming an intrauterine gestation or in the diagnosis of a
trophoblastic neoplasm. Another gynecological
neoplasm that is commonly positive with
alpha-inhibin is the so-called
female adnexal tumor of probable wolffian origin, and, therefore, the antibody is of no value in the distinction of this
neoplasm from a
sex cord-stromal tumor,
tumors that are often in the differential diagnosis.