Diagnostic value of inhibin immunoreactivity in ovarian gonadal stromal tumours and their histological mimics.

Abstract

AIMS:

Inhibin is a heterodimeric protein hormone which appears to be a sensitive serological and immunohistochemical marker of ovarian granulosa cell tumours. The purposes of this study were to examine inhibin immunoreactivity in a wide range of gonadal stromal neoplasms and to assess its value in the differential diagnosis of problematic ovarian tumours.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Inhibin immunostaining was identified in eight cases of stromal hyperthecosis, 24 adult-type granulosa cell tumours, two juvenile granulosa cell tumours, nine Sertoli cell or Sertoli-Leydig cell tumours, one gynandroblastoma, three gonadoblastomas, two cases of sex cord tumour with annular tubules, two steroid cell tumours and two sclerosing stromal tumours. Inhibin was also present in 4/6 fibrothecomas and 2/3 unclassified gonadal stromal tumours. There was no staining of neoplastic cells in any of the problematic ovarian tumours, in many of which a diagnosis of gonadal stromal tumour had been initially considered. However, inhibin was detected in reactive stromal cells in many cases.

CONCLUSIONS:

Inhibin is a sensitive immunohistochemical marker of a wide range of gonadal stromal tumours and is of value in the differential diagnosis of ovarian neoplasia.

• Authors: C J Stewart, M D Jeffers, A Kennedy
• Journal: Histopathology (Histopathology) Vol. 31 Issue 1 Pg. 67-74 (Jul 1997) ISSN: 0309-0167 [Print] England
• PMID: 9253627 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Inhibins

Topics

• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperplasia
• Immunohistochemistry
• Inhibins (analysis)
• Ovarian Diseases (pathology)
• Ovarian Neoplasms (pathology, secondary)
• Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors (pathology)
• Stromal Cells (pathology)
• Theca Cells (pathology)