HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

A quantitative immunohistochemical evaluation of lentigo maligna and pigmented solar keratosis.

Abstract
Pigmented solar keratosis (PSK) is sometimes clinically indistinguishable from lentigo maligna, a form of malignant melanoma in situ. Occasionally histologic diagnosis is also difficult. Accurate diagnosis is essential, as the treatment and prognosis for each condition differs considerably. To determine whether there was a significant overlap in the number of melanocytes in these sun-damaged skin lesions, or whether immunohistochemistry might be helpful in the differential diagnosis, the authors examined skin biopsy specimens from 26 patients with obvious lentigo maligna and 15 patients with PSK using 3 monoclonal antibodies (HMB-45, NK1C3, and vimentin) and 1 polyclonal antibody (S-100 protein). Formalin-fixed paraffin sections were immunostained with each of the above antibodies, and immunopositive cells per mm2 of epidermis were counted. The difference between lentigo maligna and PSK counts was statistically significant at a level of P < .0001; furthermore, there was almost no overlap between the two groups. The sensitivity for the diagnosis of lentigo maligna was high with all antibodies. However, HMB-45 had the highest sensitivity and the lowest false-positive rate and was visually most pleasing. Using a cut-off count of 60 cells per mm2 of epidermis, HMB-45 had a sensitivity of 96% and a 0% false-positive rate. In this study, lentigo maligna was easily differentiated from PSK. The real value of immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of these pigmented lesions should be tested in a prospective study using cases that are difficult to diagnose by routine light microscopy.
AuthorsH Lane, S O'Loughlin, F Powell, H Magee, P A Dervan
JournalAmerican journal of clinical pathology (Am J Clin Pathol) Vol. 100 Issue 6 Pg. 681-5 (Dec 1993) ISSN: 0002-9173 [Print] England
PMID8249917 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Biomarkers
Topics
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers (analysis)
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle (chemistry, pathology)
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Keratosis (etiology, metabolism, pathology)
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin Neoplasms (chemistry, pathology)
  • Sunlight (adverse effects)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: